Flamingos are making a home in Florida again after 100 years – an ecologist explains why they may be returning for good

Flamingos are returning to Florida after a century-long absence, with more than 300 sightings reported across the eastern U.S. following Hurricane Idalia in 2023. Ecologist Jerome Lorenz believes this resurgence is linked to ongoing restoration efforts for the Everglades and coastal ecosystems. Historically, large flamingo populations thrived in Florida in the 1800s but were decimated by the feather trade for fashion. While protection laws were enacted, enforcement was challenging, and flamingos, unlike other wading birds, struggled to reestablish their populations due to their specific breeding behaviors, including nesting only once a year and preferring large colonies. For decades, flamingos sighted in Florida were often assumed to be escapees from captivity. However, observations of banded wild birds from Mexico starting in 2002, and a flamingo named Conchy that remained in Florida Bay for an extended period after being banded in 2015, provided mounting evidence of wild flamingos returning. Recent data, including a survey revealing at least 150 flamingos in Florida six months after Hurricane Idalia, suggests that these birds may be reestablishing a presence. Lorenz attributes this potential permanent return to the significant progress in restoring the Everglades and Florida Bay. Decades of draining and rerouting water had severely degraded these ecosystems, leading to seagrass die-offs and a decline in wildlife. The comprehensive Everglades restoration ... download the app to read more