LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: American Flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage):

Two birds, one immature, one first-year

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) Plaquemines

Specific Locality: The southeastern end of the low island in Pass a Loutre just southeast of the Head of Passes on the Mississippi River.

4. Date(s) when observed:

October 22, 2011

5. Time(s) of day when observed:

About 8:30 AM for about 45 minutes

6. Reporting observer and address:

John Sevenair, 325 Stafford Place, New Orleans, LA 70124; jsevenair@aol.com

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

Devin Bosler, Joelle Finley, Ken Harris, Hans Holbrook, George Wood, Jeff Shenot, one other

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

Justin Bosler. According to our boat captain the birds were first found by Trebor Victoriano.

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):

The bird was in full sunlight on a clear bright morning. The sun was mostly behind us (see the photos).

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition):

Canon EOS 50D with 100-400 mm zoom lens

11. Distance to bird(s):

About 100-200 feet

12. Duration of observation:

About 45 minutes

13. Habitat:

A low muddy island in a Mississippi River distributary

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation):

The group rented a boat in Venice (arrangements by Justin Bosler) and went to the waterway between the island and the shore. We nosed up to the island, watched the birds, and took pictures. At first the birds were sleeping (I think), but they began to move around; the immature (pink) bird was more active. This bird fed and, at one point, stomped its feet up and down, presumably to stir up the mud and any organisms in it. Later the grayer bird moved around and ate as well.

15. Description (include only what was actually seen, not what "should" have been seen; include if possible: total length/relative size compared to other familiar species, body bulk, shape, proportions, bill, eye, leg, and plumage characteristics. Stress features that separate it from similar species):

The grayer bird was noticeably smaller than the pink bird. The brown on the heads of both birds are presumably from mud. See the pictures.

16. Voice:

Not heard

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):

The three-colored beak of the American Flamingo is visible on the pink bird, and there are traces of it on the younger bird as well. The other flamingos don't have that.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?):

Ken Harris and I both took photos. I have trimmed some of mine and shall attach them.

19. Previous experience with this species:

I saw the adult American Flamingo HDNT in Cameron (and reported on it). I have also seen the species in the Galapagos.

20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):

a. at time of observation:

We just called them flamingos, with no species ID proposed.

b. after observation:

The Sibley Guide to Birds. I also checked Schulenberg et al. Birds of Peru.

21. This description is written from: _____ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);_____notes made after the observation (date:_____); _____memory. Memory and the pictures.

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain:

Yes. Let the origin debate begin.

Thanks to HDNT in Cameron, DFJV in South Florida, and the existence of a population in the Galapagos, we know that this species has a high ability to wander.

23. Date:

October 22, 2011; 10:20 PM; minor changes 9:00 AM October 23.