Why do flamingos stand on one foot? — Victoria, Jonathan, Joshua, and Jenny from the 3rd grade Bible class, Orangeburg, SC

Dear kids:

To keep their balance while they feed, flamingos stand on both legs. But they stand on one leg to rest. No one really knows why they do this. One person suggested that a flamingo will swap feet to help blood circulate through its long legs. Another person suggested that the flamingo, like some animals, might turn half its brain off when it sleeps. The leg that's down is linked to part of the brain that's awake; the leg that's up is linked to part of the brain that's asleep. Yet another person suggested that flamingos hold one leg up so ducks bump into them only half the time. But I don't think that idea has a leg to stand on! My own guess is that flamingos can keep their balance better on one leg, rather than two, when they're trying to rest.