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Posted by Ken Schneider on 11:10:27 07/30/05
Mark Miller provided very detailed observations of four Greater Flamingos he saw feeding on the evening of July 16, 2005 in wetlands in SW Pembroke Pines, Florida. At just about the same time that Mark said they flushed because of a loud noise, Barry Heimlich, Fred Griffin and I saw four flamingos flying overhead just a few blocks south of this location, so we presume these were the same birds. They definitely did not have leg or neck bands. Janine B. reported (on the Tropical Audubon Society Bird Board) seeing a flock a little earlier that same evening in the same general vicinity.
On three occasions, I saw flocks of up to nine birds flying over our subdivision (which is about 0.5 miles southeast of this location) between July 12 and July 16th.
This morning (July 30, 2005), Mary Lou and I visited these wetlands but saw no flamingos. (We did have a friendly Limpkin on the road). On the way out we talked to a resident who said the flamingos have been showing up almost every day since Hurricane Dennis passed by (around July 8th), at least up until this past week. He said he photographed them and that the flock numbers from seven or eight up to about 20. He said they were bright pink, and they waded into the water up to their bellies and were feeding. Mark had noted similar behavior.
I asked him to e-mail me a photo and will keep an eye on the location, which is at the east end of SW 13th Manor in Pembroke Pines: Go west on Pines Boulevard, turn south on SW 196th Avenue at the Hess station. Jog to the right where the road is closed and continue almost all the way south and turn right on SW 13th Manor. The road is narrow, but is possible to view most of the wetlands without entering private property.
As a new Florida resident, I have been at somewhat a disadvantage as I have learned it is not all that unusual to see free-flying flamingos that are assumed to be escapees, and as a result they simply do not get reported as they do not count. While I still have the opportunity to use ignorance as my excuse for asking questions about the presumably obvious, I am compiling a data base of Florida locations where such birds are resident or regularly seen. Of course, sporadic reports will also be of interest.
So far, the only places that I know to have recurring reports of free-flying flamingos (aside from Hialeah Race Track and Snake Bight) have been:
1. the Aventura Country Club (per Sister Frances O Dell s report to the Tropical Audubon Society Bird Board about a July 4th sighting), and Nancy Freedman s follow-up indicating they have been there for many years, and
2. Duda Farms (south of Lake Okeechobee), mentioned by Paddy Cunningham as a location where flamingos have been present over a 15 year period.
There was also an isolated report on July 6, 2005 of a flock of 10-12 flying over Biscayne Bay south of the Deering Estate, seen by NPS staff and reported by Bob Showder.
I have cross-posted this note to BIRDCHAT, the Florida RBA and the TAS Bird Board. To avoid cluttering up the various bird boards, I would appreciate hearing directly from anyone who is aware of other free-flying flamingos that may be seen away from zoos or aviaries where the birds are either enclosed or pinioned/clipped. Certainly I would like to know about the condition of their plumage, the species if possible, and the presence or absence of identification bands. If there a significant response, I will keep a database and summarize the results for everyone s information.
Thank you,
Ken
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