A Greater flamingo from Africa that escaped from a Kansas zoo (left bird in photo) was spotted here this weekend, 678 miles from it's "home" in Wichita.The bird was part of a wild flock of Greater flamingos the zoo acquired from Africa in 2003. In the summer of 2005, the zoo was preparing to clip the flock's wings to keep them from flying off. But some of the birds weren't ready, and zoo staff postponed their clipping.
A breeze blew through the flamingo exhibit, ruffling their feathers, and two birds discovered their wings were long enough to fly. After that they were never seen again until now.
The flamingos' instincts probably took over, directing them south to water and warmer climates and one of them ended up here.
In addition to the escaped bird, a Caribbean flamingo (right bird in photo) has also been hanging out here. That bird, bright pink, almost orange in color, first was seen in October 2005. Its leg band identified it as part of a flock from the Yucatan. Biologists suspect it may have come to Texas during last year's hurricanes.
They are both believed to be males and have been hanging out together.
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