Current:Home > InvestPeaches the flamingo rescued, released after being blown to Tampa area by Hurricane Idalia-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Peaches the flamingo rescued, released after being blown to Tampa area by Hurricane Idalia
View Date:2024-12-23 19:31:01
A tired flamingo swept to Florida's waters by Hurricane Idalia has recovered and was released back into the wild over the weekend.
Wild flamingos typically live and breed in the Caribbean, though they are regularly spotted visiting Florida in the Everglades or the Florida Keys. But Hurricane Idalia's Category 3 winds blew them more than 300 miles north to the Tampa Bay area and beyond (reportedly as far as Ohio).
The bird, now lovingly known as Peaches, was found alone and rescued off of St. Pete Beach on Sept. 1, as Fox 13 Tampa Bay reported. Local officials assessing damage from Hurricane Idalia saw the bird far out in the ocean with water-logged wings that prevented it from flying.
"We decided that we needed to try to save her, because the consensus was she would drown possibly," local city Madeira Beach Commissioner Anne-Marie Brooks told Fox 13.
They used a towel to contain the bird and then scooped it up with a net. It was transported to the SPCA for a day before recovering at the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores, according to Fox 13. The rescuers were not able to determine the sex of the bird.
In a Facebook post, Seaside Seabird Sanctuary said that the flamingo was overall in good condition but "clearly exhausted." Videos and photos also posted show the bird in its "recess" time.
After regaining strength, Peaches was ready to join other flamingos stranded by the storm. It was outfitted with a federal band, a resight band, and a satellite transmitter that will allow researchers to look at Peaches' movements for the next few years.
"The bands and transmitter weigh about as much as a pen, and while may be a little annoying for the bird initially, it will not cause pain or distress to the bird," the sanctuary said in a post about Peaches' release.
Upon being released Saturday morning, Peaches put on a show of bathing, shaking out its feathers, and the typical flamingo dance that kicked up sediments in the waters it was feeding in. About an hour later Peaches took flight, and rehabilitators are hopeful it will join another flamboyance which has been reported in the area.
Hurricane Idalia blew flamingos off their course
After Idalia, flamingoes were spotted along Florida's Gulf Coast and even throughout Southeastern states.
Despite being a mascot for the state's lottery, many debate if the bird ever lived in Florida year-round. Even when they do make an appearance, they are usually spotted in the Everglades or Florida Keys, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Experts believe that the birds were flying from Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula to Cuba and were blown off course, a phenomenon known as a "fall out."
After Hurricane Michael in 2018, one beloved bird "Pinky" stuck around after a fallout near Tallahassee, earning a local star status.
Contributing: Chad Gillis, Fort Myers News-Press; Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY
veryGood! (233)
Related
- Five best fits for Alex Bregman: Will Astros homegrown star leave as free agent?
- Why King Charles III Won't Be Seated With Royal Family at Easter Service
- 50 years after the former Yugoslavia protected abortion rights, that legacy is under threat
- HGTV’s Chelsea Houska and Cole DeBoer Reveal the Secret to Their Strong AF Marriage
- Wildfire map: Thousands of acres burn near New Jersey-New York border; 1 firefighter dead
- Save up to 70% on Madewell’s Sale Section, Including a Chic $85 Denim Button-up for $27
- Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' is a little bit country and a whole lot more: Review
- Connecticut becomes one of the last states to allow early voting after years of debate
- How to protect your Social Security number from the Dark Web
- Barcelona's Sagrada Familia church expected to be completed in 2026
Ranking
- Michigan soldier’s daughter finally took a long look at his 250 WWII letters
- Low-income subway, bus and commuter rail riders in Boston could be getting cheaper fares
- Powell says Fed wants to see ‘more good inflation readings’ before it can cut rates
- Some state lawmakers want school chaplains as part of a ‘rescue mission’ for public education
- 'Wanted' posters plastered around University of Rochester target Jewish faculty members
- Tennessee lawmakers split on how and why to give businesses major tax help under fear of lawsuit
- Snow-covered bodies of 2 men from Senegal found in New York woods near Canadian border
- Take a Trip To Flavortown With Guy Fieri’s New Sauces That Taste Good On Literally Everything
Recommendation
-
NBA players express concern for ex-player Kyle Singler after social media post
-
ACLU, Planned Parenthood challenge Ohio abortion restrictions after voter referendum
-
A big airline is relaxing its pet policy to let owners bring the companion and a rolling carry-on
-
Jenna Dewan Shares Update on Wedding Plans With Fiancé Steve Kazee
-
GM recalls 460k cars for rear wheel lock-up: Affected models include Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac
-
Illinois’ Elite Eight run led by Terrence Shannon Jr., who faces rape charge, isn’t talking to media
-
Steve Martin: Comic, banjo player, and now documentary film subject
-
Can 'villain' Colorado Buffaloes overcome Caitlin Clark, Iowa (and the refs)?