It was a great Easter morning treat. I paddled out into the Indian River just after sunrise to see the American Flamingos at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
There were nine there when I last visited them on March 27, but there are way more now. I counted 20 flamingos, and another photographer said he counted 21.
What exactly does this population boom mean? I’m not entirely sure. But last year the number of flamingos at MINWR steadily grew during the spring, with the flamboyance reaching more than 30. The number of birds went down as the summer progressed, with the remaining ones eventually leaving the Haulover Canal area for other parts of the refuge.
One thing I did learn is that flamingo are very active a night and that’s when they usually migrate. So, there could be more morning surprises in the future.
American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, April 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, April 2026.American Flamingo with Ring-billed Gull and other shore birds, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, April 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, April 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, April 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, April 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, April 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, April 2026.20 American Flamingos in this group photo, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, April 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, April 2026.American Flamingo, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, April 2026.American Flamingos, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, April 2026.
Back in January, the park was teaming with Roseate Spoonbills who were settling in for the winter. Now it’s May, and only a few Roseate youngsters are hanging around the park.
