Rescued Flamingo Likely To Be Released By End Of Week: FL Sanctuary

INDIAN SHORES, FL — A flamingo rescued from waters off St. Pete Beach after Hurricane Idalia affected Florida’s west coast will likely be released by the end of the week, the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, which is caring for the bird at its Indian Shores facility, wrote in a Facebook post.

“The bird was admitted after being found waterlogged and nearly drowning, and it required rehabilitative care,” the organization wrote.

While the wildlife sanctuary doesn’t name its rehabilitation patients — only its permanent residents — those who found and rescued the flamingocalled it “Peaches,” the Tampa Bay Times reported.

The displaced bird was found Sept. 1 about 800 yards off Blind Pass by Captain Jeff Brooks and Madeira Beach Commissioner Anne-Marie Brooks during a boat trip organized by Bobbie Shay Lee, aide to Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott, to assess beach erosion caused by the storm.

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“It was swimming away from land and seemed very confused and exhausted,” SPCA Tampa Bay said in a news release.

The elected officials and others on the boat “jumped into action when they saw this flamingo in distress,” Martha Boden, the agency’s CEO, said.

Legislative aide Tristan Sommer told Fox 13 that the bird tried to fly but was unable to do so because of its waterlogged wings, so he grabbed a net to help it.

"The bird kept moving farther and farther out at sea. And after a few attempts, and we just couldn't get close enough, we made a few call ends," Sommer said. "We called in a couple friends, and that's when the proposal to throw a towel on the bird to weigh the bird down was proposed, and I was handed a net and someone else took the responsibility of throwing the towel on the bird, and I just sat at the end, and I was just waiting for the bird to come a little closer, so we could scoop the bird in the net."

SPCA Tampa Bay’s wildlife team was ready to assist, setting up temporary housing for the flamingo at its “for-all” animal shelter in Largo. It was brought to Seaside Seabird Sanctuary on Saturday.

“Our pink friend is making progress in their recovery,” the sanctuary wrote on Facebook. “While they still need more time to increase their weight and to gain strength, we are happy to see that their behavior and overall energy-level is showing improvement. Although they are self-feeding, we are continuing to provide fluid therapy and supportive care.”

The bird is too tall to use one of the agency’s typical outdoor exercise pens, so it’s been using a separate room at the hospital, reports said.

The organization’s rehabilitation team is working to get the flamingo “back to full strength and a healthy weight” so that it can be released into the wild, the sanctuary said.

While treating the flamingo, the organization consulted Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Flamingos have been spotted along the Gulf Coast, from Lee County to Tallahassee, since Hurricane Idalia. They’ve been seen in quite a few locations in Pinellas County, including St. Pete Beach, Fort DeSoto, Treasure Island, Clearwater and Tarpon Springs.

Strong storms “have a tendency to bring unusual species to our area and it is likely that the flocks of flamingos spotted in our area came from Cuba,” Seaside Seabird Sanctuary said. “It is best to give these birds as much space as possible, and to try to not disturb or flush them. It is unclear how long they will stay in our area so enjoy this opportunity ethically and responsibly!”