Recently there was an article in the Washington Post about multiple American Flamingoes returning to Florida and reestablishing possible breeding populations. These birds were present in big numbers in that state in the 1800’s but were hunted to near extinction by plume hunters in Florida. By the early 1900’s, there were few if any wild flamingoes in Florida, although the bird continued to serve as one of the state’s symbols.
Four years ago, I was spending a week in Florida, and I invested some time looking for the few flamingoes that were said to be hanging out in the Everglades. After all, Everglades National Park has its headquarters in the town of Flamingo. But I had no luck.
Things changed last August, however, when Hurricane Idalia visited Florida and other southeastern states. In its aftermath, flamingoes were spotted in multiple locations. Apparently, flamingoes in the Yucatan area or Cuba were swept up in the hurricane and transported to Florida and further north. There are now over 100 American Flamingoes in Florida and, since they are long-lived birds, they likely will reestablish the Florida breeding population.
Massive storms are one of the relocation mechanisms for vagrant birds that sometimes result in new populations in new places.
In the 1870’s Cattle Egrets, an African species, were first spotted in Brazil and their relocation is usually attributed to storms. These birds, recently renamed Western Cattle Egret, expanded their numbers and, reaching North America in 1947 and starting to breed in 1953. Subsequently, they have spread across much of the warmer portions of the United States.
Occasionally a Cattle Egret is spotted in Washington, and they’re always worth looking for as one drives through open farmlands and pastures. They are smaller than the other white egrets and have a hunched-over posture. They typically follow cattle, feeding on insects stirred up by grazing, and they sometimes follow farm vehicles. In our state the best chance for spotting this species is in the fall (after the breeding season) when these egrets and their young wander looking for good feeding areas.
Of course, storms are not the only (or even the major) reason for species population relocation. Human assistance is the major reason and some of these introduced species have become widespread. One very successful species is the European Starling. All the North American starlings are the descendants of about 100 birds released in Central Park, New York, by a group that wished to establish in New York all the bird species mentioned by Shakespeare. There are now over 200 million European starlings in North America and few of us, when seeing these common birds, think of the Bard.
They are stubby birds, about robin-sized, with short tails and triangular wings. Generally, they appear black or brownish gray, but during breeding season the adults take on a speckled colorful hue and have bright yellow bills. If in the late summer, fall and winter you see a large flock of smallish dark birds, chances are good that these are post-breeding starlings. You may also see them flying fast in small flocks overhead.
Another widespread introduced bird is the House Sparrow. It was introduced in New York in 1861 and by 1900 was widespread across the Eastern and Midwestern states. In the 1870’s, other introductions of House Sparrows were made in San Francisco and Salt Lake City. While not as widespread as starlings, this species is well-adapted to human habitats. They are common at farms, feeding on waste grain, and readily visit urban seed feeders. They are not especially common in Thurston County but are easily found in poor-habitat areas (areas of abandoned buildings and the like) that are not attractive to native sparrows.
Both these two species nest in cavities and have had significant impacts on native birds, especially our cavity-nesting species. Population declines attributed to these species was one of the reasons that bird lovers in the 1940’s started to put out bird nest boxes for bluebirds and swallows.
Finally, we should note that not all of these European introductions have been wildly successful. In 1870 the German immigrants in the St. Louis area, pining for home I presume, contracted for a shipment of European birds. Among the birds were 12 European Tree Sparrows. These birds were released in a park, and they are cavity nesters (like house sparrows), but here the stories of these species diverge. Now, over 150 years later, this species has spread only modestly from central St. Louis into neighboring counties, but their numbers are small. If you want to add European Tree Sparrow to your North American life list, you will have to visit the St. Louis area and get lucky.
Another attempted introduction, this time in southern Vancouver Island, is the Eurasian Skylark. These birds were introduced from Europe in 1903, with more being added in 1913. By the 1960’s their numbers grew to 1000 or more. They even spread to nearby San Juan Island, adding a new breeding species to our Washington bird list. In recent years, unfortunately, the San Juan Island population has been extirpated. Washington (and U.S.) Eurasian Skylarks are now recorded only as vagrants from the shrinking Vancouver Island population. Most of these records are from Neah Bay.
Given import/export rules it’s unlikely that new North American birds will be added by shipment, but one can never tell what the next storm might bring, Here’s hoping it will be something interesting.
George Walter is environmental program manager at the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s natural resources department; he also has a 40+ year interest in bird watching. He may be reached at george@theJOLTnews.com
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