Flamingos celebrate birthdays at nature reserve

Eleven Chilean flamingos are celebrating their birthdays at the WWT Washington Wetland Centre

A flamboyance of Chilean flamingos is celebrating their 40th birthdays.

WWT Washington Wetland Centre, near Sunderland, is hosting a flamingo day to mark the milestone for the 11 birds.

Events and activities are being held at the nature reserve to celebrate, with people being invited to see the flock.

WWT Washington's Dan Morrison, hopes the occasion will "give people a chance to learn more about the fascinating bird species at the centre".

The birds are part of England's most northern flock - and the only ones in the North East.

There are a 56 flamingos at the 45-hectare (111-acre) site, which overlooks the River Wear.

WWT Washington is preparing for its 'flamingo day'

The birds have been part of WWT Washington Wetland Centre's collection for more than 38 years, first arriving in 1986 when the Catherine Cookson flamingo house was built as part of the centre's first exhibit.

Sixteen flamingos were brought in from the WWT’s founding site in Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, to form Washington's first flamingo flock.

Thirteen of them are still at the wetland centre today, including the 11 birthday boys and girls and a further two who are at the grand age of 42.

Chance to learn

Mr Morrison said: "The flamingos are definitely one of our more eye-catching birds and are very popular with visitors, so we know everyone will enjoy helping us celebrate in style.

"Chilean flamingos can live up to their 60s, so there's still lots of life left in these birds.

"Each of our flamingos has a unique leg ring, and as part of the day’s celebrations we're asking visitors to spot these leg rings to find different birds and learn more about them. It's a fun activity to do and helps you feel even closer to our animals."

The wetland centre is also home to a variety of swans, geese, cranes, teals, pochards and eiders.

It includes hides to watch the wildlife, a saline lagoon and dragonfly ponds.

The flamingo talks and craft sessions will run from 11.45 to 14.45 BST.