Northern California zoo welcomes 4 flamingo chicks

JULY 15TH TO TRY AND REDUCE THEIR NUMBERS. RIGHT NOW, THERE’S A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR VISITORS AT THE SACRAMENTO ZOO. THE ZOO IS WELCOMING RECENTLY HATCHED FLAMINGO CHICKS. YOU CAN SEE THEIR FLUFFY RIGHT NOW. THEY WON’T GET THAT ICONIC PINK COLOR, THOUGH, UNTIL THEY’RE ABOUT 1 TO 2 YEARS OLD. THE CHICKS SHOW UP REALLY FAST. THE FIRST CHICK WHO HATCHED OUT HAS PROBABLY QUADRUPLED IN SIZE. UM, THE PARENTS ARE CONSTANTLY WITH THAT CHICK. UM, FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS, THE CHICK WILL STAY ON NEST AND BE FED BY BOTH PARENTS. SO WHAT’S REALLY COOL ABOUT FLAMINGOS IS BOTH MALE AND FEMALE PARENTS WILL BROOD THE CHICK, AND BOTH MALE AND FEMALE ADULTS PRODUCE A CROP MILK TO FEED THE CHICK. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE CHICKS WILL START TO EXPLORE. THEY’LL COME OFF OF THE NEST AND THEY’LL JUST START WALKING AROUND. UM, THEY CAN EAT ADULT FOOD PRETTY QUICKLY. ALSO, ZOO STAFF SAY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU’LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE CHICKS BEING RAISED IN THEIR HABITAT INSTEAD OF BEHIND THE SCENES. THAT’S BECAUSE THEY’RE NOW PROTECTED FROM PREDATORS. ZOO STAFF USED TO INCUBATE THE EGGS BECAU

There are some new zoo babies at the Sacramento Zoo in Northern California. The zoo said Friday that its Caribbean flamingos welcomed four chicks and shared a photo and video of the little ones. Kristene Hirsch, the lead birdkeeper at the zoo, said not all of the adults laid their eggs at the same time. The first new chick hatched on June 24 and the fourth hatched this week. Hirsch said test results on the birds' sex haven't come back yet. Hirsch said this is a historic year for the zoo because it's the first time staff have been "hands-off" with the flamingos and "allowing the parents to do everything." In years past when the birds were in a lake area, zoo staff would incubate the eggs so raccoons and other animals wouldn't take them. Now, the flamingos are protected from predators in an enclosed area that used to house chimpanzees. People are invited to come to the zoo to see the chicks.The chicks won’t turn pink until they are 1 to 2 years old, according to the zoo.

There are some new zoo babies at the Sacramento Zoo in Northern California.

The zoo said Friday that its Caribbean flamingos welcomed four chicks and shared a photo and video of the little ones.

Kristene Hirsch, the lead birdkeeper at the zoo, said not all of the adults laid their eggs at the same time. The first new chick hatched on June 24 and the fourth hatched this week. Hirsch said test results on the birds' sex haven't come back yet.

Hirsch said this is a historic year for the zoo because it's the first time staff have been "hands-off" with the flamingos and "allowing the parents to do everything."

In years past when the birds were in a lake area, zoo staff would incubate the eggs so raccoons and other animals wouldn't take them. Now, the flamingos are protected from predators in an enclosed area that used to house chimpanzees.

People are invited to come to the zoo to see the chicks.

The chicks won’t turn pink until they are 1 to 2 years old, according to the zoo.

Northern California zoo welcomes 4 flamingo chicks

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