ON THIRD STREET. THEY’LL MARCH ACROSS THE TOWER BRIDGE AND HOLD A RALLY AT CROCKER PARK. RIGHT NOW, FLAMINGOES AT THE SACRAMENTO ZOO ARE GETTING A CHECKUP. IT’S CALLED THE FLAMINGO ROUNDUP. LET’S GO TO ERIN HEFT RIGHT NOW. LIVE AT THE ZOO. SO HOW DO THEY MAKE SURE ALL THE FLAMINGOS ARE HEALTHY? OKAY, SO THIS IS A WHOLE PROCESS THIS MORNING. AND THEY MAKE IT AS EXPEDIENT AS POSSIBLE FOR THE BIRDS THEMSELVES WHEN THE EXAMINATIONS ACTUALLY START. BUT LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO THE THE MAIN TOPIC TODAY. ALL OF THESE FLAMINGOS, JUST MAKING SURE THAT THEY’RE ABSOLUTELY, PERFECTLY HEALTHY. THAT’S THE ZOO’S PRIORITY WITH ALL OF THEIR ANIMALS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. AND THAT’S WHY THEY HOLD THIS ANNUAL FLAMINGO ROUNDUP. MATT MCKIM, YOU ARE CHIEF ANIMAL PROGRAM OFFICER WITH THE ZOO. SO WALK ME THROUGH HOW THESE EXAMS HAPPEN TODAY. TODAY WE’RE DOING PROACTIVE HEALTH EXAMS ON OUR ENTIRE FLAMINGO FLOCK. 51 FLAMINGOS WILL BE PROCESSED TODAY. JUST LIKE GOING TO YOUR DOCTOR AND GETTING A CHECKUP. WE’RE DOING THAT HERE WITH OUR BIRDS PROACTIVELY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY’RE HEALTHY AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF. SO WE’RE ACTUALLY SEEING RIGHT BEHIND YOU IF WE SHOOT THE CAMERA AROUND JUST A LARGE GROUPING OF WHAT LOOKS LIKE KEEPERS, BUT ALSO THESE ARE STUDENTS AS WELL. YEAH. THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF OUR WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH UC DAVIS VETERINARY MEDICINE TEACHING HOSPITAL. WE HAVE A COUPLE DOZEN VETERINARY STUDENTS HERE, VETERINARY TECHNICIANS, VETERINARY HELPERS. WE HAVE A LARGE TEAM OF EXPERT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HERE TO HELP US MAKE SURE THIS FLOCK IS HEALTHY. AND SO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT FUN FACTS. YOU SAID 51 ANIMALS IN THIS EXHIBIT. RIGHT NOW, THERE’S 51 FLAMINGOS BEHIND ME RIGHT NOW. AND THE OLDEST FLAMINGO IN THIS FLOCK IS 57 YEARS OLD. THAT’S SO IMPRESSIVE. OKAY. AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THAT’S KIND OF THE GERIATRIC END OF FLAMINGOS, BUT THAT’S NOT UNTYPICAL HERE AT THE ZOO. CORRECT. WE HAVE QUITE A FEW FLAMINGOS WHO HAVE MADE IT INTO THEIR LATE 50S, SOME EVEN TO THE EARLY 60S. IT’S INCREDIBLE KEEPING THEM HEALTHY. YEAH. IT’S A TESTAMENT TO THE CARE THAT THE TEAM PROVIDES HERE. I LOVE IT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MATT. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. AND THEN LATER SHOWS WE WILL HAVE JUST A KIND OF SNEAK PEEK AS TO WHAT THOSE EXAMS LOOK LIKE. BUT YES, IT’S REALLY NOT TO MISS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. I’VE BEEN REALLY PRIVILEGED TO DO THIS, I BELIEVE THREE YEARS IN A ROW. MEET SOME OF THESE GUYS AND GALS. AND THEY WERE ALSO JUST SAYING THAT HERE IN THE NEXT MONTH, THERE WILL BE BREEDING SEASON WHERE THEY WILL SET UP LITTLE NESTS IN THIS EXACT AREA. AND THAT’S KIND OF THE BEHAVIOR YOU’RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW. EVERYONE’S P
Sacramento Zoo to conduct annual “flamingo roundup” for Caribbean flamingo flock
Fun fact: The Sacramento Zoo has 51 flamingos, including its oldest—a 57-year-old male, considered geriatric for the species.
Updated: 12:29 PM PDT Mar 12, 2026
The Sacramento Zoo will conduct its annual Flamingo Roundup on Thursday, giving each of its Caribbean Flamingos a comprehensive yearly health checkup as part of the zoo’s commitment to exceptional animal care.The early-morning effort will bring together flamingo keepers, Sacramento Zoo veterinarians, animal health technicians, and veterinary students from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. With five veterinary stations set up for the event, every bird will receive a thorough physical examination, and any necessary bloodwork will be collected on site. The Sacramento Zoo is home to more than 300 native, rare, and endangered animals and works to inspire conservation awareness and action through animal care, education, and recreation. A member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and continuously accredited since 1979, the zoo welcomes an average of 500,000 visitors each year.Fun fact: The Sacramento Zoo has 51 flamingos, including its oldest—a 57-year-old male, considered geriatric for the species.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
The Sacramento Zoo will conduct its annual Flamingo Roundup on Thursday, giving each of its Caribbean Flamingos a comprehensive yearly health checkup as part of the zoo’s commitment to exceptional animal care.
The early-morning effort will bring together flamingo keepers, Sacramento Zoo veterinarians, animal health technicians, and veterinary students from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. With five veterinary stations set up for the event, every bird will receive a thorough physical examination, and any necessary bloodwork will be collected on site.
The Sacramento Zoo is home to more than 300 native, rare, and endangered animals and works to inspire conservation awareness and action through animal care, education, and recreation. A member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and continuously accredited since 1979, the zoo welcomes an average of 500,000 visitors each year.
Fun fact: The Sacramento Zoo has 51 flamingos, including its oldest—a 57-year-old male, considered geriatric for the species.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel