JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Flamingo numbers are growing in Florida!

Last seen in the 1940s and 50s, they were nearly wiped out by hunters who used their feathers for things like hats.

In August 2023, Hurricane Idalia blew traveling flamingos off course and scattered them across the eastern United States. It now looks like they are staying in Florida for good.

"This past year, they saw over 120 birds in one flock that was hanging out for a really consistent amount of time in South Florida," said Danielle Minkus, a senior bird care specialist at Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens. "And in the years past, it's been kind of like 90 to 100 birds, so we are seeing more and more stick around every year."

While hurricanes can occasionally redirect flamingos to the southern United States, it ap

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