We had such a short time ashore on Bonaire however we were extremely happy and enjoyed our afternoon birding Bonaire with Susan Davis from Bonaire Bird Tours.
Susan was an excellent guide around the south end of the island and we observed many species.
Her webpage is here www.bonairebirdtours.com
The American Flamingo is a resident breeder on Bonaire. Thousands could be seen gathering in the Bonaire salt flats.
American Flamingoes can also be observed in large numbers on Cayo Coco.
Usually found in the wetland areas where they feed on algae and small invertebrates by pumping water through their inverted bills.
A pair of flamingoes lay one egg in a mud mound.
The flamingo filter-feeds on brine shrimp and blue-green algae. Their bills are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they eat.
They use their bills upside down.
The pink or reddish colour of flamingos comes from carotenoids in their diet of animal and plant plankton.
