The Pink Wave: Birds and Hurricanes

For the first time in almost a century, Floridians are seeing a lot of flamingos. Blown in by Hurricane Idalia, American Flamingos have landed as far north as Wisconsin all the way south to Collier County and the Florida Keys, including a record sighting in Alachua County.

Flamingos used to live and breed in Florida. Unfortunately, the 19th century plume trade—when an ounce of feathers was worth more than gold—decimated wading birds in South Florida. Even after legislation and Audubon wardens protected these birds, extensive draining and ditching
of the Everglades destroyed their habitat.

Now that restoration momentum is flowing in the River of Grass, we are hopeful that protected wetlands and improved water flow will create enough habitat resources for the Hurricane Idalia flamingos to survive and thrive in the Sunshine State.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP FLAMINGOS?

• Learn more—Watch a very special webinar on the pink birds with Jerry Lorenz, PhD, state research director and head of the Everglades Science Center:
• Record your sightings on public platforms like eBird, so researchers can track flamingo numbers and locations in the Sunshine State.
• Advocate for Everglades restoration and efforts to improve water quality. If American Flamingos have healthy places to live and raise their families, their Florida population numbers can improve.
• Sign up for our Advocate newsletter and we’ll keep you up to date on ways to use your voice to protect wading birds like the flamingo.

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2023 State of the Everglades report.