Where did ‘Peaches' the flamingo fly after leaving Tampa Bay? Now we know.

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a day ago

The flamingo arrived to us exhausted and confused, like so many Floridians, just days after Hurricane Idalia walloped the Big Bend region in 2023.
Boaters assessing the storm's damage found the bird struggling 800 yards off St. Pete Beach. Likely blown in on Idalia's winds, he was given shelter and named Peaches.
For weeks after the storm, Peaches roamed the shores of Tampa Bay, offering locals a rare glimpse of a species that once flourished in Florida.
But the flash of pink was gone nearly as quickly as it came. Where Peaches eventually flew to in October of that year remained a mystery to scientists and bird lovers alike.
Until now.
In early May, as researchers in Mexico tallied the nearly 15,000 flamingo nests across Yucatán, one bird stood out.
Amid a pink flurry, experts spotted a blue band around around a male flamingo's leg. It read 'USO2″— the second flamingo in the United States to be tracked.
Our old friend, Peaches.
'We are humbled by the resilience of this bird. US02 was swept up in a hurricane, carried to our shores, and managed to return to the place of its birth to contribute to the next generation,' Julie Wraithmell, executive director of Audubon Florida, told the Tampa Bay Times in a statement.
Not only does the sighting give Peaches' Florida fanbase a much-desired update on his whereabouts, it also confirms a flamingo migration pattern between Florida and the Yucatán, according to Yucatán Magazine.
'These kinds of feats of endurance and navigation are a natural part of birds' life histories, but it is always so inspiring to have this kind of insight into a single individual,' Wraithmell said.
Despite intensifying pressure from development and climate change, the flamingo population in Yucatán has rebounded from 5,000 birds in the 1950s to a current estimate of 40,000, the magazine reported, citing data from the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas in Mexico.
Peaches' story underscores how conservation efforts can make a difference in the life of a single bird, as well as its population, Wraithmell said.
After his rescue, Peaches was brought to Indian Shores' Seaside Seabird Sanctuary for eight days of care. Jerry Lorenz, former research director with Audubon, put the band on the bird's leg before he was released.
While Peaches decided to leave Florida, other flamingoes blown in by Idalia stayed. In May 2024, a survey conducted by Audubon Florida found more than 100 flamingoes, mostly in South Florida.
The largest grouping of flamingoes — collectively known as a flamboyance — was logged in Florida Bay at the southern tip of the peninsula.
Another 18 were tallied in the Pine Island near Sanibel, and there were more than a dozen flamingoes found at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Brevard County, according to the survey.
Audubon staff said they haven't seen any flamingo sightings in the Tampa Bay area since 2023.
Once abundant in Florida, the flamingo population plummeted during the 19th-century plume trade. Recent numbers from the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimate there are up to 330,000 mature flamingoes in the wild across the world.
There are several steps the Florida public can take to help wild flamingo populations. Audubon Florida encourages Floridians to record possible sightings to public birding platforms like eBird, which helps researchers gather data on where populations are located.
Advocating for continuous restoration of the Everglades, where most flamingoes are found, will also help bolster habitat for Florida's avian cultural mascot, according to the group.
And remember: If you do see a flamingo in the wild, give it plenty of space.
The Tampa Bay Times launched the Environment Hub in 2025 to focus on some of Florida's most urgent and enduring challenges. You can contribute through our journalism fund by clicking here.