FLAMINGOS ON ABACO

August 1998 Table of Contents - Current Issue of The Abaco Journal - Abaco Bahamas' Home Page

FLAMINGOS ON ABACO

Flamingos populated the Abaco Marls in considerable numbers until air exercises during World War II scared them off. Nettica Symonette of Different of Abaco has taken the first step in the process of re-establishing the national bird of The Bahamas on our island.

On 8th July, 20 juvenile birds were brought in from the National Park on Great Inagua. They were caught by driving the birds towards a 100' length of shade cloth attached to PVC pipe supports in a mangrove area. The selected birds were all six to eight weeks old.

The birds were flown directly from Inagua to Abaco in the charge of Eric Carey, Conservation Officer of the Department of Agriculture. He was assisted by two National Trust executives. One bird died during the journey but the others look very healthy.

Juvenile flamingos have grey feathers. These will gradually turn pink in 12-18 months and full colour will be achieved at maturity when the flamingos are four years of age.

The new arrivals have been penned for the first two months. They will then have their wings clipped and be released into the mangrove area of Different of Abaco. Conditions there are similar to those of Great Inagua with plenty of small molluscs and crustaceans for the birds to feed on.

It is clear that the presence of flamingos living in natural conditions will be a major attraction. If flamingos become re-established on Abaco more than half a century after they left, we will have much to thank Nettica Symonette for.

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