1. English and Scientific names:

 

American Flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber

 

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

 

One Adult

 

  1. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) (specific locality)

 

Cameron Parish – Marsh approximately half mile south of 4261 Louisiana Route 82.

 

  1.  Date(s) when observed:

 

May 31, 2011

 

  1. Time(s) of day when observed:

 

Approximately 5:25 PM CDST

 

  1. Reporting observer and address:

 

Jay V. Huner

428 Hickory Hill Drive

Boyce, LA 71409

 

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

 

None

 

  1. Other observers who Independently identified the bird(s):

 

Justin Bosler, Devin Bosler, and others.

 

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

 

Mid-afternoon, light clouds, looking south, good light, no shadows.

 

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

 

Zeiss 10 x 40 binoculars, good condition.

 

  1. Distance to bird(s):
  2.  

Bird way out in marsh, at least half a mile. Very hard to see.

 

  1. Duration of Observation:

 

Approximately 30 seconds.

 

  1. Habitat:

 

Fresh-intermediate marsh.

 

  1. Behavior of bird/circumstances of observations (flying, feeding, resting; including and stress habits in identification: relate events surrounding observation):

 

I was scanning the area where the flamingo had previously been reported for about two weeks. I saw several wading birds including Great and Snowy Egrets feeding in a marsh pool. There was an opening of about 15 feet that was in view framed by waist high marsh grass. The flamingo was apparently to the right, obscured by the marsh grass, and hopped/flew into view. It quickly moved out of view and I could not relocate it with a scope. Took a couple of minutes to set up the scope.

 

  1. 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 bird was bright pink and distinctly larger than the adjacent Great Egrets. The bill was sharply bent and the neck was very long.

 

  1. Voice:

 

None.

 

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

 

I visited the site around 9:30 AM in the morning and saw several Roseate Spoonbills in the distance. I did not see any when I found the flamingo. Roseate Spoonbills have relatively short necks and long, spoon-shaped bills. They are reddish pink as adults. The flamingo was uniformly pink – some might say reddish-orange, had a long neck and a much shorter, bent bill.

 

  1. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? Attached”):

 

None

 

  1. Previous experience with this species:

 

I had seen an American Flamingo at the site two years before. This is presumably the same bird.

 

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

 

    1. at time of observation: National Geographic Field Guide and Sibley Field Guide.
    2. after observation: Peterson’s Field Guide.

 

  1. This description is written from: _x_notes made during the observation (notes attached?); ___notes made after the observation (date: ______); __x__ memory.

 

Transcription of Notes: 5:27 PM CDST. Pink Neck. 4261 LA 82. Across Marsh in line with drilling rig. Pink-long-legged bird  larger than nearby G. Egrets.

 

 

  1. Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain. Yes.
  2.  
  3. Signature of reporter __signed Jay V. Huner_ date_June 16, 2011_ time 3:20 PM