We’ve some exciting news to share – a flamingo chick has hatched at the zoo!

This four-day-old chick is the first to hatch this breeding season and is the offspring of parents Neil and Cheviot, who our birds team leader Carl describes as being amazing, attentive parents. This wee chick is currently getting all of the nutrients it needs from the crop milk its’ parents provide, which is extremely high in protein and fat. This bright red milk is a secretion from the lining of the crop that is then regurgitated to the chick.

If you wait till the end of the video, you can see the chick starting to test its legs by standing up for the first time! We won’t know the sex of the chick until it is much older, so please stay tuned for updates.

In the next few days the chick will start to walk around, so you may catch a glimpse of the chick on your next visit.