Flamingos Return to Florida After 100 Years
Hurricane Idalia brought a flock of 300-400 flamingos to the eastern United States in August 2023.
The birds, likely migrating between the Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba, were blown off course and deposited across a wide area, from Florida's Gulf Coast to Wisconsin and east to Pennsylvania.
Following the hurricane, there were over 300 credible sightings of flamingos across the eastern U.S., according to Audubon Florida.
I'm an estuarine scientist, studying ecosystems where fresh water flows into the ocean.
Author's summary: Flamingos return to Florida after 100 years due to Hurricane Idalia.