A new study that better understands how a flamingo uses its mouth and stomp their feet while eating could lead to better water filtration systems. 

The study found that the long-legged birds create mini tornadoes while eating upside down. Flamingoes do it by chomping their mandibles, bobbing their head up and down, and marching back and forth to push water into their mouth.  

The bird is able to pick out its prey in the swirling vortices, even if the water is muddy or dirty. 

Read the story and see a flamingo eating on the College of Engineering home page.