American Flamingo 2015 Cayo Cristo © Manual Acosta Cao
The American Flamingo is quite a common permanent but declining resident on the Cays along the north coast of Cuba, and some of the islets off the south coast as well though these are harder to get to. These wonderful photos at the nest were taken by Manual Acosta Cao back in 2015 at Cayo Cristo - off the north coast of Villa Clara Province. The birds build nests of mud and plant matter and lay a single large white egg. Rainfall is the most important cue for nesting to start.
American Flamingo 2015 Cayo Cristo © Manual Acosta Cao
The American Flamingo P. ruber was split from the Greater Flamingo P. roseus about twenty years ago. It is found through the Caribbean area, the Yucatan peninsular and the Galapagos whilst P. roseus is found from Western Europe eastwards through the Middle East and India to China.
As the effects of Climate Breakdown caused by man's use of fossil fuels and the release of carbon into the atmosphere causes climate warming and greater and more frequent extremes of weather the chances for the continued existence of these wonderful birds will become more of a lottery. We heard when we visited Cayo Coco in 2019 that Hurricane Irma in 2017 had devastated the flamingos there and they were only slowly recovering their numbers.
Thank you Manuel for allowing me to share your pictures.
As the effects of Climate Breakdown caused by man's use of fossil fuels and the release of carbon into the atmosphere causes climate warming and greater and more frequent extremes of weather the chances for the continued existence of these wonderful birds will become more of a lottery. We heard when we visited Cayo Coco in 2019 that Hurricane Irma in 2017 had devastated the flamingos there and they were only slowly recovering their numbers.
Thank you Manuel for allowing me to share your pictures.
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