How to be a great dad: parental care in a flock of greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

Abstract

In the last years, studies on captive greater flamingos have increased. Research on zoo animals is important to improve the knowledge on these species and to improve their ex-situ and in-situ conservation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the parental behaviour of a captive colony of greater flamingo hosted at Parco Natura Viva, an Italian zoological garden, to improve the knowledge on this species in zoos. In particular, the present study investigated and compared the parental care of females and males in 35 breeding pairs of greater flamingos. For each pair, we collected durations of parental care behaviour of both females and males, recording their position in relation to the nest (near the nest, on the nest, away from the nest) and individual and social behaviours performed. First, both partners were involved in parental care and displayed species-specific behaviours reported in the wild. The main results were that males spent more time than females on the nest (P = 0.010) and near it (P = 0.0001) and were more aggressive toward other flamingos than females, both when sitting on the nest (P = 0.003) and when near the nest (P = 0.0003). Therefore, male flamingos seem to be more involved in incubation duties and nest protection than females. This kind of research is important not only to expand the knowledge on bird species such as flamingos, but also to improve their husbandry and breeding in controlled environment. Indeed, understanding animal behaviour allows us to gain insights into their individual and social needs, addressing potential animal welfare issues.

Investigating parental care behaviour in same-sex pairing of zoo greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

“…For each pair, we collected durations of individual and social behaviours, particularly parental care, performed by each partner within the pair when on the nest and near the nest. In addition, to be accurate, when one partner was not on the nest and was out of sight, the duration of “away from the nest” was also recorded ( Sandri et al, 2017b ). In other words, we did not collect the behaviour of the subject away from the focal point as “under most circumstances, the only condition under which such a record can be obtained is that in which all the individuals in the sample group are continuously visible throughout the sample period” ( Altmann, 1974 ).…”

“…When flamingos were on the nest (both sitting and standing), we collected data on agonistic behaviour, such as extending the neck and beak at another bird ( Stevens et al, 1992 ; Farrell, Barry & Marples, 2000 ), egg-care related behaviour (egg-rolling and moving), nest-building, self-directed comfort behaviour (preening, stretching and scratching) and sleeping (resting the head in the back). When flamingos were near the nest, all the other behaviours not directly associated with parental care were grouped in the behavioural category “Other” (for complete ethogram see Sandri et al, 2017b ). As the observed behavioural categories were mutually exclusive, during focal-pair sampling we recorded the transition times, meaning that a behaviour ended when a new behaviour started.…”

“…The aim of this study was to investigate the parental behaviour of these four female greater flamingos involved in two same-sex pairs, hosted in a flock at Parco Natura Viva, Italy. Behaviour patterns of these female–female pairs will be discussed around previous findings on parental care behaviours of female-male pairs of greater flamingos ( Sandri et al, 2017b , see Fig. 1 ).…”

“…When one flamingo leaves the nest, the other one simultaneously climbs on the nest to incubate the egg ( Studer-Tiersch, 1975 ). Even though both sexes incubate the egg, research suggests that male flamingos incubate more than females ( King, 1994 ; Shannon, 2000 ; Brown & King, 2005 ; Sandri et al, 2017b ). Moreover, both partners perform aggressive behaviour toward other flamingos that may be disturbing incubation ( Studer-Tiersch, 1975 ; Hughes, 2015 ) but male birds have been found to be more involved in nest protection ( Wood et al, 2017 ; Sandri et al, 2017b ), suggesting that a female with a strong and fit male might be more successful in reproduction.…”

“…According to previous literature on flamingo breeding reporting no differences between heterosexual and same-sex pairs’ parental care, we expected that behaviour patterns performed by the study flamingos during the incubation would be similar to those of males and females involved in female-male pairs ( King, 1994 ; Shannon, 2000 ; Brown & King, 2005 ). Based on previous research on heterosexual pairs in this same study flock of greater flamingos in which male partners were more involved in incubation and nest protection, we expected differences between partners within the pair and similarities between partners of heterosexual and same-sex pairs ( Sandri et al, 2017b , see Fig. 1 ).…”