Flamingos Flung Across the Ocean

Imagine a category three hurricane sweeping you away from your home and everything that you have ever known. Imagine the feeling of rehabilitation due to injury, or even something worse than that. That’s the story of one flamingo who experienced just that and her journey from recovering, to being released, to joining all the other flamingos that were stranded by the exact same hurricane.

This is the story of Peaches, a flamingo that was tired and swept over to the waters of Florida, but has now recovered and was released back to the wild. These flamingos, called wild flamingos, are typically both breeding and living in the Caribbean, but they are regularly spotted visiting the state of Florida in either the Florida Keys or Everglades. However, the category three winds from Hurricane Idalia blew these flamingos over 300 miles north of the Tampa Bay Area and even as far as Ohio. 

According to Fox 13 Tampa Bay, Peaches was rescued off St. Pete Beach after being found all alone on Sept. 1. Officials who were assessing Hurricane Idalia’s damage saw Peaches in the ocean, far out, with wings that were water-logged. This caused the flamingo to be unable to fly.

Local City Madeira Beach Commissioner Anne-Marie Brooks said to Fox 13, “We did decide that we did in fact need to try and save her, and that is because she would possibly drown, which was the consensus.” 

According to Kinsey Crowley of USA Today, a towel was used in order to contain the flamingo, and then she was scooped up through the use of a net. After that, she was taken to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Where she stayed a day before she began recovering at a Sanctuary called the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, which is located in Indian Shores, says Fox 13. 

In a post on Facebook, the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary said Peaches was in good condition overall but was exhausted. Both photos and videos show Peaches in what is called a time of “recess.” 

After Peaches regained her strength, she was able to join all the other flamingos that were also stranded by the category three Hurricane Idalia. Peaches ended up outfitted with what is known as a federal band, a satellite transmitter that allows researchers to look at all of her movements, for a few years, as well as a resight band.

In a post about her release, the Sanctuary said, “Both the bands and transmitter weigh as much as a pen, about as much, and it could be annoying for a little while to the bird, it shouldn’t cause either distress or pain to her.” 

Upon her release on a Saturday Morning, Peaches did put on quite the show, which included shaking out feathers, a flamingo dance that is typical, she kicked up the sediments that were located in the waters that she was feeding in, along with bathing. Approximately one hour later, Peaches ended up taking flight. 

After Hurricane Idalia, flamingoes ended up being spotted right along the Gulf Coast of Florida, including the Southeastern U.S. States. 

Even though she is a mascot for the State of Florida’s lottery, many are debating whether she ever lived in Florida year-round. 

The Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission says that when they do appear, they are typically found in either the Florida Keys or Everglades.

However, experts do believe that these flamingos were flying out from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico all the way to the country of Cuba, they ended up being blown off, a phenomenon referred to as a “fall out.” 

If you were moved by the story of Peaches, you can donate here to help other flamingos that have been captured here: 

https://seasideseabird.harnessgiving.org/donate/?selected-method=monthly&amount=50&campaign_id=0

The Seaside Seabird Sanctuary is a “non-profit caring for and releasing native birds that have been injured or orphaned. We admit about 3,500 birds every year to our Dr. Maria L. Farr Avian Hospital, the only facility in Pinellas County rehabilitating birds.”

If Peaches’ story speaks to you, consider checking out the sanctuary and helping out these innocent animals.