Home of the Flamingos

Did you know that Flamingos are about 135 cm (53 inches) long and that they breed in the Caribbean, on the island of Bonaire? They also breed north of Brazil, at a place called Amapá. Flamingos eat by walking slowly with their heads down, filtering small animals from the water and algae. When they fly, flamingos are easily recognizable by their long legs. When flamingos migrate, they like to do their flying mainly at night. Flamingos prefer to have a cloudless sky and favorable tailwinds. They can travel approximately 600 km (373 miles) in one night at about 50 to 60 kph (31-37 mph). When traveling during the day, flamingos fly at high altitudes to avoid predation by eagles. Most flamingos are seen between January and June, but are present in all months, coming from the breeding grounds in Bonaire. When on Bonaire, check out the south side of the island in the mud of the salt pans.