SPECIALIST bird keepers have launched a crowd funding project to bring rare Chilean flamingos to a bird garden in the Scottish Borders.

Oxton Pottery and Bird Garden, already home to emus, wallabies, sheep and over 50 species of rare birds, will hand-rear late laid flamingo eggs over autumn/winter 2016.

Chilean flamingos are classified as threatened, which means that their numbers in the wild are dropping, raising concerns for their future as a species. Populations are held in zoos around the world as a safety net should the situation deteriorate and the project is designed to become part of these conservation efforts, in addition to allowing visitors to the Oxton site to get up close to these iconic birds.

Of the six species of flamingo, Chileans tend to lay their eggs later in the year, which causes issues due to sunlight.

By the time the chicks hatch in late summer/early autumn, there is insufficient sunlight during the following months to ensure the chicks develop strong and well-formed bones, essential for these birds which can reach up to 60 years old.

The solution is to hand rear the chicks, providing them with humidity controlled incubators, vitamin rich food and specialist lighting which emits UVb rays, ensuring the chicks grow up with good strong bones, especially in their trademark super long legs.

Oxton Pottery and Bird Garden owner Owen Joiner told the Border Telegraph: “It’s not an easy task – the chicks require syringe feeding every two hours, mimicking the way both parents would feed them.

"However, I have previously reared 29 chicks in this way and we’re keen to recreate that success here in Oxton.

"So we have the skills, the experience and the dedication – what we don’t yet have is the rearing facility and this is what we’re asking for help with.

"We have successfully secured volunteers to help us to build the specialist rearing unit, what we’re asking people to provide via our crowdfunding page is the funds to purchase the materials to build it."

Oxton Pottery and Bird Garden was established in 2014 by Mark Haillay, a ceramicist of over 25 years, and Mr Joiner, an experienced zoo keeper of 20 years.

The gardens and pottery offer free entry to visitors every day of the year between10am and 6pm.

Owen added: "As our gardens are free to enter, funders will be able to follow the progress of the chicks in person throughout their journey into adulthood and of course, they’ll be able to see them for years to come as the flock will remain with us, growing each year as the facility is used to its full potential.”

People can donate to the project at www.crowdfunder.co.uk, searching “Flamingo chick”.