From the Northern Lights to a Total Solar Eclipse, 2024 proved a year of rare natural events. Although, this next event is somewhat unnatural. A flamingo was spotted on Cape Cod, for what might be the first time in Massachusetts history.
Locals did double takes as they found the tall pink bird frolicking on Chapin Beach in Dennis, Massachusetts.
The flamingo is speculated to have traveled to Cape Cod all the way from Long Island, and likely voyaged from Florida before that. Residents are stunned to say the least.
The flamingo was scene on Sunday, June 2. It is the first documented flamingo sighting in Massachusetts history some sources report.
Mark Faherty of Mass Audubon’s Cape Cod Wildlife Sanctuary states this “may end up becoming the first accepted record of a wild flamingo, an American flamingo, here in Massachusetts.” This may be an unprecedented sighting of a flamingo on Cape Cod.
Experts are still working to determine if this is a wild flamingo or a bird that escaped from a local zoo. However, the flamingo will be left to charter its own path. Faherty notes that “it’s hard for a flamingo to hide.” So, wherever it travels next, it’ll surely stick out, drawing attention and if necessary, aid.
The route of the flamingo and backstory to how it ended up in Massachusetts is developing. However, a flamingo was spotted on Long Island a few days ago, and this is predicted to be the same bird. If a wild flamingo, it’s possible it was displaced up north from a hurricane and will not be able to survive New England winters and will need to return to a warmed climate as soon as possible.