American Flamingos Return to Punta Sur with Exciting New Ringing Discovery!

Following their absence due to the destructive Hurricane "Milton" last year, the American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) have made a welcome return to Punta Sur Park. A new ringing registration has also been noted at Colombia Lagoon, according to the Foundation of Parks and Museums of Cozumel (FPMC). The initial sighting of three juvenile flamingos occurred on September 14, 2024, near the Xtacún lagoon. However, the hurricane in October caused the flamingos to relocate, resulting in their disappearance from the park for several months.

During a routine inspection, the FPMC confirmed the presence of the flamingos and photographed the group. Notably, one individual with a metallic ring and the number 5,446 was identified. These birds have been increasingly sighted in recent weeks.

The FPMC stressed that this monitoring and conservation work is a result of institutional collaboration. The discovery was shared with the FlamencoLab project, operated by the Pedro and Elena AC Foundation. Their research found that the ringed individual had been documented in 2019 and 2020, but had lost its identification tag. The reappearance of the flamingos in the area was a delightful surprise.

Furthermore, a new registration with the code HZTN was recorded and shared with the relevant entity. The FPMC emphasized that these observations were made possible through daily visits to the Punta Sur Natural Protected Area, enhancing knowledge of local fauna and promoting the conservation of this iconic species. In a show of gratitude for the collaborative effort, Jesús Benavides Andrade and Héctor González Cortés, the director and deputy director of Punta Sur Park, expressed their thanks to the Pedro and Elena AC Foundation for their support in preserving the American flamingo population in the area.

Original article