A FLAMINGO COLONY IN THE BAHAMAS 



BEFORE the studies for this group were made, very little was 

 known about the nesting-habits of Flamingoes. For this reason, 

 and because of the belief that a reproduction of a Flamingo 

 city (beyond question the most remarkable sight in the world of birds) 

 would possess exceptional interest, an expedition was dispatched to the 

 Bahamas in 1902, to find Flamingoes on their nesting grounds. It was 

 unsuccessful; but in 1904 the search was resumed, and on this occasion 

 the birds were discovered, and from an artificial blind, concealed in 

 the very heart of their rookery, containing 2,000 birds, a series of 

 unique photographs and observations was made. 



The birds begin to lay their eggs early in May. Their nests are 

 constructed by scooping up mud with the bill and patting it down with 

 bill and feet. The nests are raised to a height of from eight to fourteen 

 inches to protect their contents from a subsequent rise in the water. 



Both sexes incubate; one by day the other by night. The young 

 are hatched covered with down, like young ducks. They remain in the 

 nest three or four days and during this period are fed by the parents on 

 predigested juices of a mollusk of the genus Cerithium. (See standing- 

 bird at the left and also the sitting bird at the right, which is brooding 

 and is about to feed.) They also eat the shell of the egg from which 

 they have so recently emerged. 



The singular shape of the bill of the adult Flamingo is related to the 

 manner in which it secures the small spiral Cerithium shells which, in the 

 Bahamas, appear to constitute its only food. To obtain them, the bill 

 is pressed into the soft mud until its point turns upward. The lower 

 mandible moves rapidly, forcing out the mud and water through the 

 channels along the sides of the bill and leaving the shells. 



It will be noted that the bill of the .young Flamingo is essentially 

 straight, but when about two weeks old the curve becomes evident and 

 the young bird begins to feed as does its parent. 



When a month old, a second downy plumage is acquired (see bird at 

 right), and at the age of two months, this is replaced by a dress of brown- 

 ish feathers (see bird at the left). In October or November this is 

 probably followed by the pink plumage of maturity, since no brown 

 birds are seen in the spring. 



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