ORLANDO, Fla. — Tuesday, June 23, is National Pink Flamingo Day — celebrating Florida’s unofficial mascot.
Discovery Cove is one place in Florida where guests can get up-close to the beloved birds. The day resort has Caribbean Flamingos. “They all have their fun personalities,” zoologist specialist Jennifer O’Neill says.
The habitat is called Flamingo Point. Until a few years ago, the flamingos only made brief appearances during morning walks through the resort. But now, this dedicated oasis allows park guests to observe the birds swimming, playing and nesting — all day long.
O’Neill gets to share fun facts with curious onlookers. “(Flamingos) have 19 bones in their neck, so that allows them to sleep in really crazy, different positions,” she says. Regarding their vibrant pink color, O’Neill says, “They get their coloration by what they eat, so they’re going to eat different types of small crustaceans.” She says it takes about two years to get their full coloration and height.
If you want to get even closer to the birds, guests can partake in Flamingo Mingle. That means you can step inside the habitat and feed the birds and interact with aviculturists.