Wild American flamingos are being seen again in Florida’s Everglades and Florida Bay, in numbers that have people doing double takes. A century ago, flamingos all but vanished from Florida after heavy hunting in the feather trade. Now sightings are rising, and some birds are sticking around instead of flying back out.
After Hurricane Idalia in 2023, researchers and birders reported a wave of flamingos across Florida and beyond. A statewide count in early 2024 logged more than 100 wild flamingos in Florida, including big groups in Florida Bay. Then in July 2025, one researcher photographed a flock of about 125 flamingos in Florida Bay, one of the biggest groups seen in years.
That kind of return is making scientists ask the big question: will flamingos try nesting in Florida again? A confirmed nest would be a huge moment, because nesting on Florida soil has not been verified in about a century. Experts think cleaner water, healthier wetlands, and years of Everglades restoration may be making the area feel livable again. But flamingos are picky about where they raise chicks, and they need quiet places with the right water levels and food.
If you see one, give it space and let it feed, rest, and recover. And if the trend keeps going, Florida might finally get the real thing back, not just the lawn ornaments.
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