Current Events - Flamingos Use Makeup

          A new study shows that flamingos use a type of natural makeup to make themselves look pretty during mating season!  For a long time, scientists have believed that flamingo feather hues are affected by the sun, or stained by organic matter.  However, this theory has been proven wrong by a team of scientists, who noticed that right after chicks stopped hatching, the flamingos began to fade.  Later, the strong pink color comes back during the next mating season. 
          The color of flamingos is produced by carotenoids.  The birds are able to obtain and maintain the pinkness through their diet - carotenoids are absorbed through the algae and crustaceans flamingos eat.  Flamingo feathers naturally contain the pigment compound, but the new discovery is the fact that oil produced near the bird tails also hold much, much more of it.
         Scientists have known for years about this oil, as it is waterproof and helps the feather survive longer.  The flamingos preen the substance into their feathers to help keep themselves healthy.  The researchers have found out that during mating time, the birds clean more than usual.  When the oil gets into their feathers, it enhances the feather colors, making them strong, vibrant, and attractive to mates - after all, the darker the color, the better a mate it will make.

Originally written by: Matt Kaplan
November 10,2010
For more information, go to:http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/11/101110-flamingos-makeup-mating-science-animals/

I thought that this article was very interesting.  I've always thought that flamingos are colorful year-round and that the reason some are more faded than others is because they are old.  I never dreamed that oil could be the secret to being pink!  I was thinking that maybe, using the flamingo oil, we could invent new types of eco-friendly paint, as long as we don't harm the animal itself.  Of course, after watching Food Inc and how the chickens and cows are treated, I wouldn't want this to turn into some huge factory...All in all, this article was an interesting surprise!