Paradise Park in Cornwall is celebrating the arrival of the first flamingo egg of 2025, marking a hopeful moment for the park’s conservation efforts. The egg, laid on Saturday, was discovered by keeper Becky Waite, who expressed the team’s excitement over the news.
This year’s optimism is particularly high, as the park’s flamingo parents, Penelope and Colin, are returning for another breeding attempt after the heartbreak of losing their chick in 2024. Penelope and Colin, who have been named after the famous Bridgerton characters, were the first to lay an egg this season. However, they’re not the only hopeful parents; Derek and Doris are also expected to lay an egg in the coming week.
Waite shared more about the flamingo parenting process, explaining that once the chick hatches, both parents will take turns caring for it. The team is especially eager for the chick to hatch next month, hoping for a successful breeding season.
For those who want to follow the journey, Paradise Park has set up a live webcam where the public can watch the flamingo parents build their mud nests and care for their eggs. Waite mentioned how amusing it is to watch these birds in action, calling them “hilarious” as they work together to create their nests.
Waite also shared some fun facts about flamingo chicks. When they first hatch, they are fluffy white balls with a soft, downy appearance. As they grow, they turn grey before eventually becoming the iconic pink color by their first birthday. This transformation is thanks to their diet, which contains pigments that give adult flamingos their striking pink hue.
With the new egg and the hopeful anticipation of more, Paradise Park’s flamingo breeding season is off to an exciting start. Everyone can follow the progress of these adorable birds and hopefully witness the arrival of a new flamingo chick in the weeks ahead.