Caribbean Flamingos are nesting at the San Diego Zoo

Egg, (top left), days-old chick (top right) and months-old chick (center) show the flamingos in various stages of breeding and caring for their young. 

Photo by J.J. Meyer

I grabbed my point-and-shoot camera knowing our visit to the San Diego Zoo would be short on the Fourth of July.  So excuse the poor quality of the photo above.  I wish I had toted my SLR and zoom lens after all, because to my surprise the flamingos were still nesting.  The first egg of the season was laid April 24 by the zoo's oldest female, age 53.  She routinely lays the first egg.  You still have time to grab your camera and head down there to see these adorable chicks in various stages of development.  The downy white hatchlings have straight pink bills and pink swollen legs, (see top right).  After about a week, the legs turn charcoal gray and the bill begins to curve downward.  

A young, months-old chick stretches after a nap. Photo by J.J. Meyer

Happy Birding!
J.J.