About Bonaire’s flamingo, the American Flamingo.

The American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), also known as the Caribbean Flamingo, is the only flamingo that naturally inhabits North America.  It is closely related to the Greater Flamingo and Chilean Flamingo.  Bonaire is one of only four locations where the American Flamingo breeds.  It is such an icon of Bonaire, that the island’s airport is named after it:  Flamingo Airport, and, of course, the airport is pink!

Flamingos can be found at many locations around Bonaire, but dense concentrations occur at Pekelmeer in the south of Bonaire, Lac Bay, and also at Gotomeer, in the north of Bonaire.  There are also flamingos to be found in Washington-Slagbaai National Park, usually at Boka Slagbaai, although they could be observed at other saliñas in the park as well.

Adult American Flamingos are the largest flamingos in the Americas. They measure from 120 to 145 cm (47 to 57 inches) tall. The males weigh an average of 2.8 kg (6.2 lb), while females average 2.2 kg (4.9 lb). Its life expectancy is 40 years. Most of its adult plumage is pink to coral-colored (the exact color will depend upon the food they consume), while the primary and secondary flight feathers are black. The bill is pink and white with an extensive black tip. The legs are entirely pink. The call is a goose-like honking.

Flamingos on Bonaire may breed up to three times a year.   However, the main breeding time is March through mid-July.

As early as December, one might begin to observe courtship displays:  the raising of wings, or lifting of the heads with a side-to-side motion.  There’s an elaborate dance.

By January, the breeding colony is forming deep in Pekelmeer.  One might see a thin line of pink on the horizon, as thousands of birds congregate.

After a mate is chosen, the pair will build a nest out of mud, looking somewhat like a tower, and which can reach a diameter of 40 cm (16 inches).  There’s just enough space in between nests to ensure a little privacy–and no pecks from nearby flamingos.

Filter-feeding.

Bonaire’s flamingos use their feet to stir up the mud.  They then invert their head upside down (their bill is perfectly shaped for this), and they take in water through their bills.  The flamingos then use the sieve-like strainers on the bills, filtering out the water, while keeping in small brine shrimp, seeds, algae, mollusks, and other microscopic organisms. 

“Hoovering.”

One might also observe the flamingo feeding in another way, called by locals, “hoovering” (as in the manufacturer of vacuum cleaners).  In this method, the flamingo will walk along the shoreline, and its head will sweep back and forth as it vacuums in and enjoys a tasty meal of brine flies.

 Visits to nearby Venezuela.

Although Bonaire is the perfect spot for the breeding of the American Flamingo, nearby Venezuela actually provides a better location for feeding.  One can observe small groups of flamingos heading out to sea about sunset, as they fly to the Venezuelan coastline to feed.  Once sated, they head back to Bonaire and can be seen arriving about sunrise.

Is there enough food for the flamingo chicks?

In 2018 and 2019 it was estimated that about 1000 flamingo chicks were born on Bonaire each year.  It’s natural that some will not be strong and will not make it to adulthood.  However, in these years, an extraordinary amount of Bonaire’s flamingo chicks were found out of the breeding colony.  During periods of heavy wind, they might be blown out of the protected area, but it was found that many of these chicks were also underweight and malnourished.