After incubation period, the new gray chicks are welcomed to this world and stays in the nest for the first up to 12 days or less of their up to 50 years. The chick has pink bill and legs but within a few days, up to a week they turn black. All the parents know their offspring by voice and feeds them with a bright rich in blood red secretion formed by glands in the upper digestive tract.

After the chicks leave nests, they stay together in crèches. They are however able to fly and swim from an early age. It is interesting to note that flamingoes have few enemies as the conditions that they in are usually inhospitable for the predators and large birds of prey. In Lake Nakuru however I have had a few occasions that hyenas have been able to Prey on the flamingoes. See photos here: http://www.natural-track.com/

During flight they follow each other closely, using a variety of formations that help them take advantage of the wind patterns and maintain their bonds of togetherness.

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