[Columbia, SC] - Riverbanks’ eight-week-old baby flamingo chicks take one giant step this weekend when they join the adult flock currently on exhibit in front of the Birdhouse at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

“Our baby flamingos have grown extraordinarily well throughout the past eight weeks. Six of our oldest and strongest chicks have been in a separate area of the flamingo exhibit throughout the past week. Today, we plan to integrate the chicks for the first time with the existing adult flock,” said Martin Vince, curator of birds at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

At roughly two months old, the baby flamingos have surprised the staff with how pink their wings have become. Guest visiting Riverbanks Zoo’s flamingo exhibit will enjoy seeing flashes of the chicks beautiful pink feathers. This is a rare experience because pink feathers do not typically start to show up in flamingo chicks for 6 to 10 months. Flamingos get their pink color from the food they eat. In the wild, flamingos may be bright pink, or surprisingly pale, depending on the amount of special nutrients called carotenoids their food contains. These are the same nutrients that make carrots orange and tomatoes red. The flamingo food at Riverbanks Zoo is carefully balanced to make them as beautiful and healthy as possible.

The baby Caribbean flamingos came from eggs collected from the Hialeah Park Racetrack in South Florida. The first chick hatched on July 4. The keepers have had the unique experience of hand-raising each individual chick until they are capable of eating on their own.

Throughout the past few weeks the flamingo chicks have continued to get more comfortable with their surroundings as each day passes. Catch a glimpse of the baby flamingos this weekend at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden as they get introduced to their exhibit for the first time and meet the adult flock.