The Florida Flamingo

The Florida Flamingo


  • The Florida Flamingo

Published Date

  • published 1940


from it. Occasionally a bird sparred with one of the three or four
neighbors which were within reach, when, bill grasping bill, there
ensued a brief and harmless test of strength."

Newly-hatched flamingos remain in the nest three or four days,
but when disturbed they clamber over the edge of the nest, falling to the
ground or water below. There they rest until they have the strength to
go on. After a few hours, when the plumage is dry, the babies swim and
run easily, though they cannot fly until they are fully grown. Mama
Flamingo feeds her child on partially digested juice of a small mollusk;
drop by drop she gives her young "regurgitated clam broth" made from a
small spiral shell found in the water.

Flamingos are proud of their gorgeous plumage but only a few
people have caught them at their "dress parade." On such occasions they
march in army-like formation, the long line of flamingo red resembling a
prairie fire.

The flamingo has been and is, used for feed. During the time
Tiberius ruled the Roman Empire (14 to 37 A. D.) there lived a famous
epicure called Apicius, who discovered a method to prepare one of the
greatest delicacies of the day, the flamingo's tongue.

Native Bahamans, more gourmand than gourmet, prefer the flesh
to the tongue. The birds are usually fat and their flesh is oily with a rank
flavor that the Bahamans like. Since the Bahaman gov-