Flamingo spotted hanging out with flock of pelicans in Florida

Flamingo spotted in the wild with flock of pelicans in Florida

A tour boat captain captured a rare sight in Florida: a flamingo hanging out with a flock of pelicans in the wild. (Credit: Captain Craigs Everglades Boat Adventures LLC)

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. - A Florida tour boat captain came across a rare sight while out on the water: a flamingo hanging out with a flock of pelicans in the wild.

Capt. Craig Daniels of Capt. Craig’s Adventures told FOX 35 News he spotted the pink bird while on a trip to the Ten Thousand Islands on Monday.

"I thought it was a piece of trash on a stick," he said.

Capt. Craig Daniels

When he took a second look, he saw that it was a flamingo, but was convinced that it was a fake lawn decoration that someone put there as a joke.

"Then the bird took off flying and flew all around the boat. It was so exciting! And then the bird landed back on the other end of the beach."

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Photos show the flamingo standing among the pelicans – not even trying to blend in. The pink bird splashes through the water on its skinny legs before taking off flying over the water.

Capt. Craig Daniels

Rochelle Streker, a Southwest Florida shorebird manager with Audobon Florida, told WINK News that this is their first confirmed flamingo in Collier County.

Capt. Daniels went back to the same spot a few days later and said the flamingo was still there – with its new pelican friends.

According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, flamingos have been observed along much of the state’s coast, however, outside of Hialeah, more than 95% of observations have occurred within the Everglades, Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys.

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