English and Scientific names:	American Flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber
Number of individuals:	1 (plus one escaped Greater Flamingo)
Locality: LOUISIANA:	Cameron Parish
Specific Locality:	Grand Chnier
Date(s) when observed:	05/03/2009
Time(s) of day when observed:	Mid-day
Reporting observer and address:	Paul Conover Lafayette, LA
Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):	Julien Conover, Donna Dittmann, Steve Cardiff
Other observers who independently identified the bird(s)	Many others.
Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):	Sunny, hot light.
Optical equipment:	Zeiss 10s, Nikon Fieldscope, Sony camcorder with 60 x optical zoom
Distance to bird(s):	Probably 100+ yards at minimum
Duration of observation:	1 hour
Habitat:	Inland marsh, not sure of salinity.
Behavior of bird:	Resting behind/on levee, preening, feeding in water. Initially, this bird was absent/not visible. After a few hours of waiting and driving the area, we returned and it was visible in the distance.
Description:	My description isn’t all that important given the thorough photo/video documentation of this bird by numerous observer. I will say that the color was startling, unlike what I’d expected.
Voice:	Not heard.
Similar species:	Similar species eliminated by the presence of a band placed on this bird in the Yucatan.
Photographs or tape recordings obtained?	Poor quality, not attached.
Previous experience with this species:	Life bird in the wild.
Identification aids:
This description is written from:
Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain:	Yes.
Reporter:	Paul Conover
Date and time:	June 9, 2009 4:13 PM