A single bird sits at Rio Lagartos, the species’ main nest site in Mexico. Nest mounds create an austere sight at the end of the breeding season,
though flamingos will reuse such mounds in future years if conditions in the area remain favourable. Both parents build the mounds, which involves
rolling up small pellets of mud and shaping them into a cone-shaped nest. Birds will continue to raise the level of their nests by building throughout the
incubation period, hence the nests’ differing heights. After breeding, parent birds are instantly recognisable by their white feathers, which will remain
until each individual rebuilds its carotenoid stores and moults into a new set of pink plumage.
| PORTFOLIONATURE54 June 2017