Where Did The Flamingos Go?

If you visit the park during the next few weeks, you might notice some usual residents aren't where you expect them to be.

Last week, a team of over 35 people undertook the task of moving about 30 flamingos and dozens of water fowl back to our zoological support area.

Clearing the exhibit will allow lots of improvements to be made, including installing a brand new filtration unit, which will make the job of caring for so many birds a lot easier for the Aviculture Department.  By freeing up hours that were previously spent hosing down and scrubbing the exhibit, the bird staff will now have more time for bird enrichment, husbandry, and conservation projects. This will also conserve thousands of gallons of water every year by keeping the pond areas on a closed recycling system so that we can reuse the same water again and again. While the exhibit is under construction, it is also an opportunity to landscape the habitat in a way that encourages more natural nesting and breeding behaviors. We are now able to introduce taller plants for the flamingos, and bushes that are low to the ground for the ducks and other water fowl.

Transporting so many birds takes a whole lot of teamwork. The Water Quality Department assisted by ensuring the water levels were just right for the birds to be moved safely. Team members from Aviculture, Aquarium, and Animal Care worked together with help from folks in Human Resources and Education to carefully gather the birds for the transport.  As each bird was collected, their identification bands were checked and replaced as necessary, photos were taken for their health records, and they were given a quick check-up from one of our veterinarians. While the work is done on their habitat, the flamingos will be staying in a special aviary in zoological support.

Working with animals like flamingos can be a lot of hard work, but it can also be very rewarding.   Have you ever wondered about zoological careers at SeaWorld? Visit our careers resources website to find out about pursuing opportunities in marine animal science, and hear stories from our experts in the field. You can also check out our Careers Camp program, which gives young people an opportunity to work side-by-side with animal professionals and allows them to see first hand what a zoological career is all about.