Nature Viva Park Welcomes 14 Record-Breaking Pink Flamingo Chicks

Pink flamingos have reached a key milestone at Parco Natura Viva, where the spring breeding season has produced 14 chicks inside a record colony of more than 150 birds. With the start of summer, the young—now over a month old—have been moved from the nesting island to the nursery area, where they will be watched by older “baby sitters” while their parents return to feeding and social activities within the group.

According to Camillo Sandri, the zoo’s director, the transfer to the nursery is a crucial stage in the chicks’ development, allowing parents to resume their routine after incubation and early rearing. During this period, larger flamingos supervise the newcomers, and the colony’s highly social behavior can be seen as well: chicks often “follow” their parents around the pond in a behavior known as “guiding,” reflecting the species’ reliance on the group for safety and learning.

Sandri also stressed that the chicks’ survival depends on the quality of coastal and lagoon habitats, which are among the most fragile ecosystems. Even as flamingos gradually return to Italian coasts for nesting, wetlands face pressure from reduced water bodies and human infrastructure, risks that could affect breeding success and the species’ long-term future.
Italian Version