The word flamingo likely evokes images of Florida or Las Vegas rather than the pink fowl due to the hotel properties and street names which proliferate those places — but the graceful large birds can be rather interesting to simply watch their natural behaviors as they go about their business.
Sunday Morning Photograph March 27 2022: Flamingos in the Dominican Republic.
Unlike the pink fowl at Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya when I was on safari in Africa — which are classified as Phoeniconaias minor or Lesser Flamingos — these flamingos in the Dominican Republic are classified as Phoenicopterus ruber or American Flamingos.
The legs of an adult flamingo can range between 30 inches long and 50 inches long, which is longer than his or her entire body — and although several theories abound, the reasons why flamingos usually stand on one leg with the other tucked beneath the body is still not completely understood to this day.
Ever graceful, a flamingo can become a work or art — especially with its supple long neck and plume of feathers. This one actually posed while looking at my camera.
Although flamingos are very social birds as they live in colonies whose population can number in the thousands, they are also monogamous birds — each of whom lay only a single egg. A flamingo can weigh up to 3.5 kilograms or 7.7 pounds.
Flamingos are strong but rare swimmers and powerful flyers — even though they are most often seen simply wading — as the top speed of a flamingo is as fast as 35 miles per hour when flying in a flock; and the wingspan can range between 37 inches and 59 inches.
Final Boarding Call
If you ever encounter a flock of flamingos, consider taking a moment to observe them and their curious behaviors. They can be fascinating to watch.
Please click here for a complete list of the Sunday Morning Photograph series of articles at The Gate.
All photographs ©2019 by Brian Cohen.
