WRE News: HB753 Could Make the Flamingo Florida’s New Official State Bird

Miami, FL – January 16, 2024 – House Bill 753, brought forth by Rep. Linda Chaney and Sen. Alexis Calatayud, calls to switch Florida’s official state bird to the iconic flamingo. For nearly a century, Florida’s official state bird has been the mockingbird, renowned for its melodious tunes and mimicking abilities. However, the push to change the state’s bird to the flamingo instead has been making waves. The flamingo, known for its audacious pink hue and resilience, has become synonymous with Florida’s tropical charm. The flamingo’s presence in Florida’s imagery, from postcards to TV shows like Miami Vice, already solidifies its association with the Sunshine State. Not only would this change formalize the existing connection, but it could also promote awareness of wetland conservation, where flamingos thrive. “There is no more of an iconic Florida bird than a flamingo,” Zoo Miami’s Ron Magill Wild Life told the Miami Herald Editorial Board. “The plume hunters at the turn of the century nearly wiped them out, not to mention that people ate them. They are an example of what conservation can do.”