By TOSHIYUKI TAKEYA/ Staff Writer
January 26, 2018 at 11:00 JST
Editor's note: This is part of a series of videos offering an up-close perspective on the animal kingdom. A special 360-degree video camera system was set up in zoos and other facilities to show how the animals view their world as they interact.
Also visit our special 360-DEGREE LIVES page (http://t.asahi.com/360lives), where you can watch all the previous videos.
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In flamboyant colors of white, pink, orange or red, thin and long-legged flamingos cannot fail to capture one's attention.
But have you ever wondered what it is like to be surrounded by an army of the wading birds?
About 50 flamingos of three species are kept for exhibition at Tobu Zoo in Miyashiro, Saitama Prefecture. Shortly after a video camera was placed in a large puddle, the flamingos came out in droves. It was a little intimidating, but also definitely a sight to behold.
The greater flamingo is whitish and tall, while the American flamingo has a vivid reddish-pink plumage. The one whose bill is whitish near its face and joints are pink is the Chilean flamingo.
Because the three species live in different countries and continents, they cannot be seen together in the wild.
On closer inspection, they stand on one leg.
According to zookeeper Maiko Kawai, 31, one theory says that they adopt the stance to keep the other leg warm by tucking it inside their feathers. Another theory is that standing on one leg makes it easier to maintain their balance.
One of the characteristics of the flamingo is its long and sharply curved bill, which has a comb-like structure that filters plankton, aquatic insects, algae and other food from the water.
The bright red color on the flamingo’s wings and other parts apparently comes from red pigments in plankton.
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