The long-neglected Florida flamingo finally may get the recognition it deserves

News and views for Floridians and bird-lovers everywhere

I write today to praise a trio of Florida legislators who have filed bills to right a long-standing and grievous wrong.

And, as you will soon note, all three are Republicans.

And some of you may be saying to yourselves, what’s gotten into this guy saying nice things about members of the G.O.P.?

Well, when you’re right, you’re right. And these three deserve credit for their courageous stand against this grave injustice.

The issue is the mockingbird. Specifically, the northern mockingbird.

Inexplicably, it was named Florida’s state bird by a concurrent resolution of the State Senate in 1927.

It is a lovely little bird. In fact, four other states have also named it their state bird. And it can be found in all 48 contiguous states. Said another way, it isn’t special. It isn’t unique to Florida. So how did it get so honored in the Sunshine State?

The only feasible explanation is that the year 1927 was the height of Prohibition, and my guess is our state’s esteemed senators were probably washing down prodigious quantities of smuggled Cuban rum in a speakeasy, and somebody said:

“Hey, we’re Florida men. Let’s do something really stupid.”

And they did.

Florida, after all, is home to many exotic birds: pelicans, parakeets, roseate spoonbills—but, especially, flamingos.

A century ago, before feather hunters nearly wiped out the state’s exotic bird population, flamingos nested here in Florida in great numbers as well as other locations in the Gulf and Caribbean basins.

But they were vulnerable. At one time, an ounce of flamingo feathers was worth more than an ounce of gold.

And while nearly rendered extinct, their iconic image never left our minds. Let’s face it, when you think of Florida, you think of sun and sand and dolphins and flamingos!

Heck, it’s the official mascot of the state lottery! What more evidence do you need?

My Hard Rock Cafe tee shirt from Miami is my absolute fave. And guess what’s on the front—yes, a flamingo!

And, of course, our own Tropic Press advice columnist, Hermina Hermelinda Obregon, goes by the moniker Miss Mingo. Why? Because the flamingo is the rightful state bird of Florida.

And this is where those three Republican state legislators come in.

Reps. Jim Mooney and Chip La Marca, and Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez have filed bills that would make the American flamingo the state bird and the Florida scrub-jay the official state songbird.

They say it will “promote Florida’s unique ecosystems, support the endangered scrub-jay, and leverage the iconic flamingo’s recognition.”

Both bills seem to be moving smoothly through the legislative meat grinder with bipartisan support.

Finally, we have something the legislature can do that we can all agree on.

It’s time for a change. Florida doesn’t need a state bird that’s already the state bird of Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. It needs its own, unique, avian symbol.

It’s time the flamingo got its due.

Full disclosure: I might be a little biased as I have dozens of pink plastic yard flamingos, flamingo statues, flamingo lights and other flamingo paraphernalia all over my house. My office, where I am typing this, is practically a flamingo tchotchke sanctuary.

But when you’re right, you’re right.

Related:

With intervention, flamingos can expand in Florida, UCF research says

Designation of the State Birds (HB11)

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J.C. Bruce is the founder of Tropic Press, a journalist, and award-winning author. He holds dual citizenship in the United States of America and his native Florida.

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Sad Santa

Christmas may be behind us, but Santa is struggling to remain jolly. That’s what he gets for reading the latest public opinion polls. Mark Schulman has the story on his Substack site. I’ve also cross-posted it on the Tropic Press website. Spoiler alert: There’s speculation—probably just started by Mark—that President Donald Trump may rename Santa’s home. Here’s the link:

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