For generations, Florida has claimed the flamingo as its unofficial mascot: a splash of pink on postcards and lawn ornaments.
But for the last century, the real birds had vanished. Now, they may finally be coming home.
In the early 1900s, hunters nearly wiped out Florida’s wading birds, their plumage fueling the fashion industry’s obsession with feathers. By the time laws like the Migratory Bird Treaty Act passed in 1918, it was too late.
Decades later, recent sightings have restored hope that the flamingo could make a comeback.
“We’ve slowly been seeing their numbers rebound outside of the U.S. and there have been tantalizing reports of them returning,” said Julie Wraithmell, Executive Director of Audubon Florida. “I think we all hope that we will one day see them breeding back in Florida again. And, you know, it’s a little bit of a redemption story for us.”
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The signs of recovery aren’t a fluke, say experts, who laud a massive push to restore the Florida Everglades, which Wraithmell referred to as “flamingo heaven.”
“Continuing to invest in the restoration of the Everglades ensures that that place remains for the pioneering flamingos to come back to us,” she explained. “Florida’s environment is also the foundation of Florida’s economy and our prosperity and quality of life. So what’s good for birds is good for people too.”
That commitment is starting to pay off. Scientists have reported growing flocks of flamingos glowing pink across Florida Bay during the winter months. “The birds are the best measure of whether we’re getting it right. And I think early reports from them are to keep up the good work,” said Wraithmell.
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The comeback got an unexpected boost in August 2023, when Hurricane Idalia swept across the Gulf, disrupting hundreds of traveling flamingos and scattering them across parts of the U.S.
“They’ve realized that Florida is a place that was once theirs and could be again,” Wraithmell explained. “The big step now is will they give breeding a go? We would love to get a second chance at nesting flamingos in Florida.”
For Floridians and birders, this moment is 125 years in the making. “It was always just kind of like a secret shame because it felt like we lost that right or lost that opportunity in 1900,” Wraithmell admitted. “The idea that we could get a second bite at that apple, we could get a second chance to get it right this time and to truly own our birthright as the state that is associated with flamingos, it’s an anxious and exciting opportunity.”
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