Pink Flamingo Musings

As I was on a road trip to Jacksonville this week, I happened upon some flamingos **in my beloved marshes...flamingos are not often seen in north Florida...so I was very excited...

Flamingos are not native to North America. The flamingo has not been known to ever breed here, or to live here for extended periods of time, which are two of the requirements for a bird species to be considered a native species. The Caribbean, or American, flamingo may visit our area for a short time while searching for food, but this is rare.

The flamingos seen in Florida are generally ones which have been brought in by zoos. Their wings are generally pinned or trimmed to keep them within their areas. There have been a few "escapees" due to accidental release, or due to release because of natural disasters such as hurricanes. Generally these birds will stay only for a short while, but they migrate on to more suitable habitat areas and never seem to make us their permanent home. info from Dorothy Baldwin zoo educator Jacksonville Zoological Gardens

So you can imagine my glee when I saw these three...the marshes and estuaries surrounding Amelia Island are some of the most beautiful I have seen...the wildlife is plentiful and there is always a surprise photo op waiting... bay and estuarine systems are among the most productive ecosystems on earth; however, many estuarine systems are experiencing a decline in productivity because of global warming, land use, pollution.

It might surprise you to know that I once worked in a marine biology lab in South Carolina...I assisted the marine biologists and learned so much about the ecosystems within these marvelous places... it was located on the exact spot where the first shot of the Civil War was fired on Fort Sumpter in 1861...I loved to walk the grounds and feel the historic ambiance of the place...only a small marker tells of the events that happened here...

Today's AMUSEment - take a camera and get out into your environment today...see what Mother Nature has to offer you...

U Be Creative Today!

**ps - alas, after looking at the photos more closely, these are roseate spoonbills, not flamingos....but they are just as rare and beautiful...