Danielle Shacklett, age 10, of Miami, Fla., for her question:

ARE THERE MANY KINDS OF FLAMINGOES?

Flamingoes are brightly colored water birds that range in color from coral pink to bright scarlet. They have long, awkward black legs and webbed feet. There are six species of flamingoes that make up the family.

Only one type of flamingo is found in the United States. It is the scarlet flamingo and it lives wild in Southern Florida. Other types of the bird can be found living in Central and South America, as far south as Brazil.

The Bahamas have been a favorite nesting place for the flamingo for centuries. As many as 2,000 pairs have been seen there at one time. These binds like to live in large groups.

When nesting time comes around, the bird scoops up mud from shallow water to build a tapering cone. This may be a foot or more high and a foot in diameter. On top of this cone, one or two chalky white eggs axe laid by the female flamingo. There, after tucking its long legs under its body, the bird sits until the eggs hatch.