I have a wildlife zoo

The location of Flamingo Lake is behind the lion exhibit, just a walk along the shore of Waterfowl Lake, and then a bit further on. As soon as he arrived, Lin Hao's eyes widened, staring dumbstruck at the lake, exclaiming, "Wow, so many flamingos!" At a glance, dozens or even hundreds of flamingos were cackling away, as if a thousand frogs were giving a grand chorus, the spectacle both grand and lively. The colors of their feathers varied, some were white tinged with pink, like ripe peaches, while others were pure white. Some flamingos had brightly colored wings, a cinnabar-like crimson, glossy and shiny. From a distance, they looked like burning flames. Especially when running, they resembled red banners fluttering in the wind, very eye-catching. It wasn't just the color; their shapes were also quite peculiar. Slim figures, long straight necks, slender legs, and beaks shaped like sickles, curving downwards. Overall, they had a light and graceful aura, with incredibly elegant postures. Most of them were standing in the water, their long legs submerged, feeding in the shallows, while some strolled on the grassy shores, walking leisurely with their long legs. A big group of flamingos in the water turned the lake surface pink, as if it were filled with bright rosy clouds. Lili wondered, "Why are some of these flamingos white?" In her mind, weren't flamingos supposed to be red? Otherwise, why would they be called by that name? Lin Hao said, "Eh, the zoo director is over there explaining. Let's go have a listen!" The newly opened Flamingo Lake had quite a few visitors! Fang Ye had made it a routine to come over and explain to the visitors. As they approached, they heard Fang Ye talking cheerfully, "Legend has it in the Ancient Loulan Kingdom, there was a peculiar bird! After their feathers grew full, they would fly south continuously until reaching the Flaming Mountains, where the heavenly fire would ignite their feathers, and then they would bring the fire back to the Ancient Loulan Kingdom, ultimately turning to ash. Thus, the residents of Loulan called this bird the flamingo. The former prince of Loulan had powerful control over fire magic, but due to his tyranny and jealousy, he was punished by the gods and locked in the Sky Piercing Tower. When the prince of Loulan was punished and confined to the tower, the flamingos, as guardians of the royal family, were also locked within. Whenever foreign tribes invaded, the flamingos would burst into flames, displaying extraordinary divine power, their bodies enveloped in dazzling fire, with their sharp beaks becoming the sharpest blades to mete out punishment to the invaders." After telling a little story, the visitors, especially the children, listened with great interest. Children love hearing such stories the most. Fang Ye used the tale as a prelude to spark the audience's interest, then he started to educate them seriously, "Leaving myth aside, flamingos are also very interesting animals. Flamingos have another name, Greater Flamingo, and they aren't just one type of bird; there are six different kinds, and the ones in our zoo are the Greater Flamingos. Many people ask why these flamingos aren't red, but also white. Actually, their feathers are originally white!" "Ah, shocked!" The expressions of disbelief among the visitors were like hearing for the first time that tigers eat grass. Fang Ye continued, "The red color of flamingo feathers comes from the astaxanthin they consume, which is red in color. In nature, animals cannot synthesize astaxanthin; flamingos obtain it by eating fish, shrimp, algae, and plankton, which allows astaxanthin to accumulate in their bodies. After several chemical reactions, the originally pure white feathers then take on a bright red hue. For flamingos, astaxanthin is like their make-up. Greater flamingos are light grey or dirty white when they're just hatched, gradually turning white, and it's not until they're three years old that they begin to change, with their feathers turning pink. Many adults are also white, and this relates to diet and season. "The redder the flamingo, the more robust its physique, and the stronger its attraction to the opposite sex." Lin Hao suddenly realized, "So that's how it is!" Daigo also sighed, "The main issue is that the name 'flamingo' is too misleading." Just by hearing the name, one imagines them to be red, forming a stereotype in their thinking. Fang Ye chuckled, "Flamingos are vain and quite neurotic animals! Our flamingo animal keeper is a girl who usually wears makeup. Because of the flamingos, she has stopped wearing lipstick now, as these flamingos get agitated when they see her lipstick, flapping their wings and running back and forth, and they won't accept being fed." "Hahaha, running back and forth? Are they considering the animal keeper a rival?" "It's just like when girls make friends, they prefer those who are less attractive than themselves and don't like it when someone is prettier than they are!" "The sacrifices of an animal keeper are multifaceted! I really couldn't do that." In the waters of Waterfowl Lake, a flamingo stepped out gracefully with its long legs. Then it turned its pink neck and bit its tail twice with its black beak. Next, it rubbed its beak against its wings, methodically grooming its feathers with serious attention. Fang Ye said, "These flamingos spend most of their day preening! The gland on their tail secretes oils rich in carotenoids, which is a natural waterproofing substance, and when applied to their feathers, it makes them look glossy and lustrous. Rubbing it all over their bodies makes their feathers become even brighter. They can go a day without eating, but absolutely cannot go a day without preening." The visitors watching the flamingos saw many of them grooming their feathers. Knowing what they were doing, rather than just watching for fun, gave the spectators a different impression. They clicked their tongues and remarked, "Indeed quite the vain creatures!" "With all that primping all day long, how could they not be beautiful." Someone curious then asked, "Director, the bills of cranes, swans, and pelicans, although slightly different, are all long and pointed. Why is the flamingo's beak curved?" Fang Ye explained, "This is due to their living environment! Flamingos usually live in salty lakes or harsh wetlands, surrounded by barren mudflats. These areas are rich in blue-green algae, diatoms, and the mud contains various larvae of insects and plankton, which are their main food sources. Flamingos live in large flocks, gathering by the hundreds or thousands, and just imagine the spectacular sight of them walking through shallow waters while foraging for food as they walk." He bent his hand to demonstrate, "If their bills were straight, they would have to stretch out their necks to search for food in the mud, which would easily cause conflicts with other flamingos. With such a curved bill, when they lower their heads towards their feet, the bill is just parallel to the water surface, making it easier for them to feed. Most birds have a strong upper bill and a smaller, more flexible lower bill, but flamingos are the opposite, with a thinner upper bill that facilitates digging in the mud. The edges of the bill are serrated, and by opening and closing it in the water, they pull food towards them to eat. The gaps between the serrations are very small, allowing water to flow away while keeping food in the mouth. Everyone can observe carefully and see how they feed!" "Awesome!" "How amazing!" Lin Hao couldn't help but exclaim, "Nature's design is truly ingenious!"