A surprise visit from an acquaintance can be a pleasant distraction from the day-to-day routine most experience. It allows the participants to catchup on life and activities of mutual interest, and possibly to plan for future interaction.
The spontaneous appearance also can raise questions as to why the guest suddenly, and unexpectedly, appeared. Did they just happen to be passing through the area where they are not normally seen, or is there another self-serving reason (like they need a free meal)?
Sometimes the reason is difficult to determine, but whatever the motive, the visit should be enjoyed as an opportunity to have a novel experience. In Florida this is a common occurrence with people (especially those from out-of-state), but also for birds seen out of their common habitat.
On Friday, June 12, 2020 a lone flamingo was seen on the mudflats of the St. Marks National Wildlife Reserve. The natural area is home to many native species of birds and on the flight path of numerous avian flocks traveling to their seasonal homes.
The American flamingo (Phoenicopter ruber) is not normally associated with north Florida. While it does migrate, it is to its breeding grounds in the Galapogos Islands and other distant locations far to the south.
When seen in Florida, it is observed in the extreme southern counties. Aside from the plastic lawn ornaments, its normal habitats are isolated shallow brackish waters and mudflats.
The American type is the largest of four flamingo species in the western hemisphere but is smaller than the greater flamingo which is found in eastern hemisphere locations. Reaching almost five feet in height, this leggy wading bird reaches a lean adult weight of about four to six pounds.
The name flamingo originated from the Portuguese or Spanish term for “flame colored”. This bird’s bright colors come from its diet which contains high volumes of carotenoids, usually coming from shrimp. Captive examples lose their brilliant plumage coloration when the menu changes.
Omnivores, this bird feeds on a variety of nutritional sources. They are capable of filter feeding on brine shrimp (and other crustaceans) and blue-green algae in shallow coastal waters. They will also consume small insects or larvae and mollusks.
These marine birds’ high-salt diet requires a specialized organ to regulate its bodily functions. A salt gland is located in its beak and is used to excrete excess saline through its nasal opening.
Another feeding advantage possessed by flamingos is their bill. As with most birds (and other animals), the lower jaw drops, but with these birds the upper bill can be raised.
A very social bird, wild flocks can number into the hundreds. They break into smaller groups of 15 to 50 when mating season arrives.
Flamingos nest on mudflats, laying a single white egg in a mud mound nest in late spring to mid-summer. Once established, the adults will aggressively defend their nesting site.
Both parents care for the hatchling which typically leaves the nest at seven to 12 days of age. Still, parental involvement may last up to six years when the fledgling reaching sexual maturity.
It is unknown if the recent flamingo visitor to Wakulla County was an errant adolescent exploring the world or an individual blown off course during the week of stormy weather. What ever the reason, it was a striking sight to see the native pink plumage in a north Florida wild reserve.
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