County: Watch wildlife with caution
Lee County Parks & Recreation staffers are asking visitors to exercise sound bird-watching etiquette around a rare bird that is being sighted at Bunche Beach Preserve.
An American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) has been in Lee County on and off since July. Summer sightings included Estero Bay and the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Most recently it has been seen in the waters off San Carlos Bay Bunche Beach Preserve in South Fort Myers.
Unfortunately, some visitors who are trying to capture dramatic photos have been observed by staff getting too close to the bird to make it flap its wings, among other things.
“This a rare treat for wildlife enthusiasts to see, but the bird should not be harassed,” Conservation 20/20 Manager Cathy Olson said. “Please respect this bird and others on the preserve by using binoculars, spotting scopes or cameras with zoom lenses and do not try to get continuously closer to the bird.”
The American Birding Association rules of etiquette are available online at: www.aba.org/about/ethics.html.
The species’ typical range includes Central through South America and the Caribbean, with regular populations on the east coast.
Source: Lee County Parks & Recreation
County: Watch wildlife with caution
Lee County Parks & Recreation staffers are asking visitors to exercise sound bird-watching etiquette around a rare bird that is being sighted at Bunche Beach Preserve.
An American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) has been in Lee County on and off since July. Summer sightings included Estero Bay and the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Most recently it has been seen in the waters off San Carlos Bay Bunche Beach Preserve in South Fort Myers.
Unfortunately, some visitors who are trying to capture dramatic photos have been observed by staff getting too close to the bird to make it flap its wings, among other things.
“This a rare treat for wildlife enthusiasts to see, but the bird should not be harassed,” Conservation 20/20 Manager Cathy Olson said. “Please respect this bird and others on the preserve by using binoculars, spotting scopes or cameras with zoom lenses and do not try to get continuously closer to the bird.”
The American Birding Association rules of etiquette are available online at: www.aba.org/about/ethics.html.
The species’ typical range includes Central through South America and the Caribbean, with regular populations on the east coast.
Source: Lee County Parks & Recreation
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