Flamingo becomes local social media star
(CNS): A stunning American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) that stopped by the Malportas Pond in North Side over the holiday weekend, probably blown off course by the recent weather, has become a social media hit with local photographers. The Department of Environment said flamingos are casual visitors to the Cayman Islands. The last sighting of this beautiful species in the Cayman Islands was in October 2014 when a flock of them also stopped over at Malportas Pond.
The flamingo appeared to be in good health and still had bright pink and orange plumage, which means the carotenoids from the tiny crustaceans it normally eats and give it colour are still in its system. If it remains in Malportas Pond for some time, it will grow noticeably paler as it will feed on algae instead. While it can survive here for some time, once rested, it will likely resume its journey and find its flock.
“Wetland areas such as Malportas Pond and other Terrestrial Protected Areas are integral to both native and migrating birds as well as a host of other species necessary for the healthy functioning of our delicate island ecosystems,” the experts at the DoE stated on social media. “Ensuring we have protected habitats also means we can continue to enjoy the beauty and wonder of our incredible natural Cayman for generations to come.”
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Category: Science & Nature
Enjoy it while you all can folks…The Cayman Islands are slipping away. We have now become a country that only caters to the elite and wealthy. The middle class is slowly disappearing and there will only be the haves and have nots.
Our government (past and present) have created this mold and there is no stopping now. The amount of greed and corruption combined with development and and little regard for the environment and our people has put us on a slippery slope and once our environment is gone – Our tourism industry will diminish and they will simply find another destination that offers better diving,eco tourism and that “island charm” that so many of of our return tourists say that we are losing fast…
interesting to see that it is actually the male specimen.
It’ll likely get hit on the head and killed by our local fishermen like the popular pelican a few years ago. They don’t give a crap about the environment.
it’s in a pond. none of our fisherman fish in ponds.
Someone will probably kill it just like they did with the Pelican a few years back.
they have been coming little cayman..mainly point o sands ponds since 80’s on transit migration …i have witnessed
Probably the last we see of them…if Jay and his high-end developers gets their way with the EWA.
Malportas Pond going soon thanks to Jay and his developer friends.