Llanelli wetlands hearing the pitter patter of little flamingo feet

Llanelli Wetlands Centre is hearing the pitter patter of little webbed-feet welcoming three flamingo chicks.

The fluffy new arrivals are currently cuddled up to their parents, but are expected to start moving around in the next few days. One parent will stay with a chick for the first 10-15 days and as the chick gets older, they will be looked after in 'creches' by a group of adults.

They may be small at the moment, but a flamingo chick can grow up to 5mm on each leg every day. They grow their first adult feathers at three-months old, but won't turn their characteristic pink colour until they reach three years old.

A total of 24 flamingo eggs were laid at the centre in Penclacwydd, but not all of them are thought to be fertile. Centre staff hope at least 10 chicks will hatch in coming weeks.

Around 80 flamingos are raised at the centre each year and used to educate the public and raise awareness of the role the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust plays in flamingo conservation.

Now for a few flamingo facts:

• Flamingos get their bright pink hue from the high amount of Beta Carotene in the foods they eat, including algae and crustaceans

• They are the tallest birds, with some growing to 5ft tall

• It's believed a portion of their brain sleeps at a time, so they don't lose their balance while they sleep on one leg

• A group of flamingos is called a 'colony'

• Flamingos can live up to 30 years.