The flamboyance of American Flamingos is back at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Well, maybe “back” isn’t the right word.
It appears they never actually left but were residing in less remote parts of the 140,000-acre refuge. There had been a couple of reported sightings of flamingos in the past six months, in New Smyrna Beach and areas mostly north of Haulover Canal. But during the week of March 19, a group of them returned to their previous hangout at Bird Island off the heavily traveled Haulover Canal.
I went to visit them on a Friday evening as the sun was setting. It was great to see nine flamingos around the island and many of the other birds who are there. Hopefully, like last spring, more flamingos will join the Merritt Island group. Fingers crossed.
American Flamingo, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingo, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingos and American White Pelicans, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingos and American White Pelicans, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingo, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingo, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingo, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingo, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingo, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingo, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2026.
The small part that I did see was impressive – a great pond with lots of wading birds and a rookery for egrets and other birds. An adult and juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron flew overhead, and a pair of Roseate Spoonbills were hanging around.
