Is this a flamingo?
Yes it is
Is it a pink Greater flamingo?
Yes, it is.
But it isn't pink!
It isn't pink because it hasn't eaten enough shrimp yet, because of its young age. With time, it will end up as bright as the older individuals of the flock we saw today.
What is the relationship between the shrimp they eat and their body color?
The shrimp, Artemia salina (brine shrimp) has carotene, the same pigment that makes carrots orange and flamingos pink.
So there are shrimps in the brackish water of Floreana!
There are brine shrimps; there are also water boatmen (Trichorixa reticulata) and a couple of species of crabs as well. The mud of Floreana lagoon is really rich!
I understand now why we found so many flamingos and shore birds; they have plenty of food. Floreana's pink mystery is solved. However I know there are a few other thrillers yet to decipher…
