Parade of Pink! Brookfield Zoo Welcomes American Flamingo Chicks
Plans to expand new flamingo flock and zoogoer experiences over time
Public being asked to vote and help name two chicks
Brookfield, Ill. – The Chicago Zoological Society is pleased to announce the return of American flamingos to Brookfield Zoo for the first time since 1997. Nine recently hatched American flamingos, ranging in age from 2 to nearly 5 months old, can be seen at the Zoo’s Swamp habitat as well as during outdoor appearances.
Accompanied by animal care staff, the flamingos will make a daily appearance at noon, weather permitting, around the Zoo’s Roosevelt Fountain for zoogoers to have up-close experiences with the lively flock. Guests can see the Parade of Pink—or gray for now, as the young birds’ pink feathers are still developing.
All nine chicks, which are called flaminglets, arrived at Brookfield Zoo from one of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ accredited zoos. In addition to having the birds featured in Zoo Chats and making appearances during outreach programming, there are plans to offer opportunities for guests to enjoy these charismatic birds during feeding sessions. The new program is expected to begin in summer 2024.
“Brookfield Zoo is thrilled to welcome back American flamingos to the Zoo’s family of aquatic birds,” said Cody Hickman, associate director of avian care at the Zoo. “Over the coming years, we hope to breed and hatch many more flamingo chicks at the Zoo to build up a large flock, similar to what you might experience in the wild.”
The Zoo is asking the public to help name two of the flamingos. Beginning October 13, at 9 a.m. CDT, those interested in helping name one of the male and one of the female flamingos, can go to the Zoo’s website at CZS.org/NameOurFlamingos. Name choices for the female are: Fiona, Peggy, Sunrise, and Daisy, and the public can choose from Otis, Ringo, Dash, and Fabio for the male. Voting will conclude on Tuesday, October 24, at noon CDT. Names will be announced the following day.
American flamingos are fully-grown at about 2 years old. Guests can expect to see gray-feathered chicks for now, as their bright pink plumage will appear over time as the birds molt and mature. When fully grown they can reach up to 5 feet, weigh between 4 and 8 pounds, and have a wingspan of about 5 feet. The American flamingo is found throughout the Caribbean Islands, along the northern coast of South America, and southeastern United States, particularly in Florida. These animals are very social and typically live in large flocks.
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Photo Captions (credit: Jim Schulz/CZS-Brookfield Zoo)
8519 and 8562: Weather permitting, the American flamingos at Brookfield Zoo will make a daily outdoor appearance at noon.
8718 and 8724: Nine young American flamingos recently arrived at Brookfield Zoo. They can be seen in The Swamp.
Female: The public is being asked to vote and help name one of the Brookfield Zoo’s female flamingos. Choices are Fiona, Daisy, Peggy, and Sunrise. Go to CZS.org/NameOurFlamingos to vote.
Male: The public is being asked to vote and help name one of the Brookfield Zoo’s male flamingos. Choices are Fabio, Ringo, Otis, and Dash. Go to CZS.org/NameOurFlamingos to vote.
About the Chicago Zoological Society
The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people to wildlife and nature. The Chicago Zoological Society is a private nonprofit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The Society is known throughout the world for its international role in animal population management and wildlife conservation. Brookfield Zoo is the first zoo in the world to be awarded the Humane Certified™ certification mark for the care and welfare of its animals, meeting American Humane Association’s rigorous certification standards. The Zoo is located at 8400 31st Street in Brookfield, Illinois, between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and also is accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, and CTA and PACE bus service. For further information, visit CZS.org.