Approximately two years ago, the Cape May County Zoo received Chilean Flamingos from Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. The Flamingos can be found in the Flamingo Yard in the zoo. Flamingos at the Cape May County Zoo, summer outside in the Flamingo yard and winter inside the World of Birds Aviary. The Chilean Flamingos are the smallest flamingos in the yard. In all, 16 flamingos reside at the zoo with 13 of them being the Chileans.
Uniquely this bird is a filter feeder like the baleen whales. They take up water into their hooked beak and expel the water trapping shrimp and other invertebrates with comb-like structures in its bill called Lamellae. They often stand on one leg and will shift back and forth one up and one down to rest.
All Flamingos are Carnivores and eat invertebrates such as shrimp. At the Cape May County Zoo, Flamingos are served a special food just for the flamingos.
SOURCE: Cape May County
