Picture this: it’s the morning after Hurricane Idalia on the Sanibel Causeway, and what do you see? No, your eyes weren’t deceiving you – a “flamboyance” of flamingos (if you’ll allow us our overzealous use of the technical term) made a surprise appearance, and the island (plus social media) is buzzing with excitement!
While Sanibel Island is absolutely no stranger to wildlife sightings, this particular WILD occurrence has taken residents and visitors by delightful surprise. Flamingos, known for their vibrant pink feathers and striking appearance, aren’t an everyday sight on the island.
Although there have been rare instances of flamingo sightings on Sanibel, usually within the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge, these birds are not native to the area. So, while there might be a few flamingos on the island from time to time, you’re not exceedingly likely to see one.
Scroll down and press play to see the video (with video courtesy of Tamara McQuade and photos courtesy of Jennifer Sparks) of Flamingos on the Sanibel Island Causeway…
RELATED: CALL FOR ART: Attention Artists from (or inspired by) Sanibel, Captiva, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Pine Island, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, and Southwest Florida. Sanibel Art Colony is seeking artists to submit art inspired by the impact of Hurricane Ian to their digital-only exhibition, “There’s Calm In Your Eye”. NO ENTRY FEE! Submission Deadline: September 23, 2023. CLICK HERE TO ENTER NOW: sanibelartcolony.com/hurricane-ian-call-for-art
Additional information about the Flamingo sighting on the Sanibel Causeway
Why did these magnificent flamingos decide to make a pit stop on the Sanibel Causeway (which is still a full-on construction zone due to damage from last September’s Hurricane Ian)? Well, Mother Nature might be able to offer us some clues…
The aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, with its heavy rainfall and storm surges, could have prompted the birds to seek higher ground and new water sources. It’s also possible that the storm disrupted their usual habitats, leaving them in search of safer and more suitable locations. The adaptability of these birds truly shine through as they navigate their way through unexpected circumstances.
Historically, flamingos were abundant along Florida’s coastlines, but their numbers were tragically decimated in the late 1800s and early 1900s due to hunting for their sought-after feathers.
Today, the global population of American Flamingos is estimated to be 260,000-330,000 mature individuals. Florida’s population is estimated to be a fraction of 1% of the global population of this species – or less than 1,000 birds.
As we marvel at this rare and remarkable sighting of flamingos on the Sanibel Causeway, let’s celebrate the beauty and resilience of these creatures. While they might not be a regular sight on our island, their visit is a reminder of the incredible diversity of wildlife that surrounds us on Sanibel.
So, keep your eyes peeled – you never know when a flamboyance of flamingos might grace us with their presence on Sanibel once again!
Who knows, maybe next time they’ll bring Jimmy Buffett along with them!
Click PLAY below to view the video of Flamingos on the Sanibel Island Causeway.
Video: Tamara McQuade. Photo: Jennifer Sparks.
Photos of Flamingos on Sanibel Island Causeway by Jennifer Sparks
Photos of Flamingos on Sanibel Island Causeway by Tamara McQuade
Instagram Video of Flamingos on Sanibel Island Causeway by artist Rachel Pierce
RELATED: Join our BRAND NEW Sanibel + Captiva Island Art + Photography Group
ALSO RELATED: Connect with @sanibel_barometer on Instagram
Disclaimer: Information is harvested (at time of publication) from publicly available sources and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed – any editorial content is solely opinion-based – availability, prices, details, and etc are subject to change or withdrawal at any time and for any reason. All dimensions are approximate and have not been verified. All data should be independently verified.
