One of the most exciting moments in birding, is hearing news that a rare bird is nearby, and being able to try and see it. This was the case, when news broke that American Flamingos had made their way to Wisconsin, which was improbable, but not impossible. Earlier in the year, hurricane Idalia had pushed American Flamingos into the United States from further south, and they had been seen in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Louisiana, and more. Although it was a possibility that they could show up in the badger state, it didn’t seem likely based on how far northwest Wisconsin is, until it actually happened. The Flamingos had been spotted on the coast of Lake Michigan in a town called Port Washington, which is just north of Milwaukee.
I started the drive to Port Washington, and picked up my friend Nathaniel along the way. As we got closer we counted down the minutes until we would have a chance of seeing wild flamingos on Lake Michigan.
We arrived to a busy parking lot, and an array of birders and non-birders taking in the strange sight of these unique birds. As we laid eyes on them it almost seemed unbelievable. With so many people, it felt like one of the festivals the Lake Michigan coast is known for, but this time not Summerfest, rather Flamingo Fest.
Adult American Flamingos are pink in color with black wingtips, a distinctive downturned bill, a long neck, and long legs. Flamingos are born gray and white, and only get their pink coloration from their diet of algae, shrimp, and other small crustaceans, after about 2 years. Adults are around 5 feet tall and Flamingos are normally seen in groups. Their native range extends from the Caribbean to northern South America, and they are often seen wading in the shallow waters of saltwater or brackish coasts. When feeding they will drop their head into the water and sway it from side to side, pumping water in and out of their bill to filter out food. This action may be accompanied by foot stomping, in order to bring more food to the surface. In the Wisconsin group, there were two younger birds still showing their gray color, which was quite a contrast in comparison to the pink adult birds.
In-between capturing photos and videos and appreciating this incredible site, we also caught up with some of our other friends who had also made the trip to see the birds. The crowd continued to grow and many of the local news outlets also showed up to cover the story.
Eventually, after watching the Flamingos for about 2 and 1/2 hours, and talking to multiple news outlets, we decided to head out, feeling really excited about seeing the Flamingos in Port Washington.
Later in the day, it was reported that the Flamingos eventually flew south, but a number of days later they were re-found at Petenwell Lake in Wisconsin. As the weather cools, it is hoped that their instincts will kick in and they will fly south, hopefully to a warmer climate with an abundance of food. As of now, they seem to be in good health and are finding enough to eat. If they do not leave as winter approaches, an attempt will likely be made to catch and relocate them. The appearance of these birds has made a huge impact on the birding and non-birding community, and hopefully seeing them will inspire more people to learn about birds and bird conservation. Where do you think Flamingos will show up next? Let us know in the comments below!
