Skip to main content

Flamingo Spotted in Georgica Pond May Be State's First

Fri, 05/31/2024 - 18:12
Christopher Gangemi

The first ever American flamingo to visit New York State chose to touch down in East Hampton — Georgica Pond specifically — Friday afternoon. The bird was first observed by Cathy Blinken, who was working remotely from a guest house on the pond.

“I happened to be looking out onto the pond and thought I saw an interesting looking swan. I thought it was a cygnet,” said Ms. Blinken. “As soon as the bird lifted its neck, I knew instantly it wasn’t a swan and realized it was a flamingo. I thought, what’s a flamingo doing here?”

Not equipped with a camera that could do the bird justice, she phoned the office of The Star and requested someone come down to photograph the bird.

“The fact that in this age of digital information and apps, that the bird was found and first reported by a local newspaper is remarkable,” said Shai Mitra, an assistant professor at the College of Staten Island. There has been an incursion of flamingos in the Northeast this spring, he said, but this was the first in the state. While there was a report or two of American flamingos in New York during the 1960s, it was never clear if they were escapees. “It’s the first in a very long time, if not the first ever.”

Henry Oreamuno is a caretaker on a Georgica Pond property. He has seen many interesting birds during his time there, including a black swan a few years ago, and an albino turkey. “The American flamingo is the most unique bird I’ve seen in 25 years,” he said.

“I feel bad for him, if he’s lonely,” said Ms. Blinken. Mr. Mitra put it in perspective. “This flamingo just wanted to go a little further than the other ones did.” He’s a maverick.

Turns out, he wasn’t so lonely after all. An unscrupulous man on a sailboat began chasing the flamingo around the pond, causing it to lift up and fly at least five times. Marine Patrol was called, but the man had departed before he could be educated. It is a crime to harass birds.

The bird was best viewed from the mouth of the pond at the beach. Parking for those with an East Hampton Town sticker is available on Beach Lane. From there, the walk to the mouth of the pond might take 15 minutes.

“I hope he decides to live here for a while,” said Ms. Blinken. “It will be fun to have a flamingo.”

“Who would believe a flamingo would be on Georgica Pond?” said a woman who has lived on the pond for over two decades. “I mean, that’s crazy!”

Villages

If a Tree Falls In East Hampton, Who Hears It?

A tree once grew in East Hampton. A big tree. A “perfectly healthy tree” that was likely “a couple of lifetimes” old, according to Dave Collins, the East Hampton Village superintendent of public works. Then, a homeowner decided it needed to go and in a spasm of governmental efficiency, it was promptly removed by the state. The tree seems to have fallen victim to a cross-jurisdictional communication gap.

Feb 13, 2025

It’s a Bird Count Weekend

This weekend, as bad weather blows across the East End and you’re staring out the window, why not count the birds that you see at your feeder for the Great Backyard Bird Count?

Feb 13, 2025

A Push for Historic Status in Wainscott

The Wainscott Citizens Advisory Committee voted unanimously to write a letter to the East Hampton Town Board calling for the historic preservation of the entire 30-acre property at 66 Main Street, which the town purchased for $56 million last year with community preservation money.

Feb 13, 2025

 

Your support for The East Hampton Star helps us deliver the news, arts, and community information you need. Whether you are an online subscriber, get the paper in the mail, delivered to your door in Manhattan, or are just passing through, every reader counts. We value you for being part of The Star family.

Your subscription to The Star does more than get you great arts, news, sports, and outdoors stories. It makes everything we do possible.