Hi,
I have heard tat the flamingos will leave the island at sunrise, fly to Venezuela then return at night or something to that. Does anyone know if that is true? Since my flight on now comes in at 4:40 AM (I miss AJ!!) I thought I would head over there to see them take off. I have also heard they are quite noisy when the fly away. Some friends of ours will be arriving 3 days ahead of us and will pick us up at the airport then thought we would head south to watch the migration.

Thanks,
Wendy

Hi, Wendy....not positive but I know some of them do come and go in the early evening/late afternoon and return in the early, early morning. We have seen them fly by on the road past the salt mounds towards the lighthouse at times. Lovely to see from the ground....the black underneath their wings really stand out that way. Carole

Hi Carol,
Thanks for the info. I am definitely going to check this out. I think if would be fun to watch and get some great pictures of the flamingos.

Wendy

I think they overnight in Venezuela and fly back in the early morning, as Carol says we have seen them flying back in the early morning 7:00 to 8:00 am - ish.

I have also seen them fly in over Pink Beach late in the afternoon.

Well
I know that we have sat watching and waiting at sunset more than once at both Goto Meer and the salt pans and nothing happened. On the other hand we have seen a large flock fly past while driving along the road down south at sundown. Of course the camera was securely in the bag then.
Mick

Mine, too, Mickey! LOL...I think they "know" when to fly and cameras are tucked away. LOL.

I don't recall who took this photo that I saved years ago (if you are out there, please let us know if you took this gorgeous shot!) of a flamingos flying overhead...just gorgeous. Carole

Hi Wendy, 2 years ago we were at the slave huts at day break and saw ~ 50 take flight from the salt ponds and head south over the sea. I promised myself that the next time I go to see them, I'll make sure to brace my camera as the winds were very strong and even though my camera was on a tripod the images were very blurry. It was a sight to behold and not to be missed. I hope you'll get to see them.

Hi Carole, twas I who took that shot. It somehow did not make it from our old web site to the new one, but does appear in this video:

Why I Love Bonaire

We go south quite often to see them fly and always take our guests there. We park just south of the last slave huts (there is a paved spot there) and try to arrive just before 5:00pm. We've not figured out the timing, but some (from just a few to thirty or forty) usually fly by 6:00pm. We've only been shut out once or twice. If you are lucky, they will fly right overhead. When the sun is shining on them (as in that photo), its just heart stoppingly beautiful! They are the perfect color for a desert island.

This is a great occasion for a picnic and a bottle of wine!

Our friends down Belnem way have rescued more than one flamingo from the water...too tired to make it to shore on the way back from Venezuela in the morning.

Does anyone know why they expend so much energy in such a round trip flight? Its gotta be food or reproduction. Anyway, it's definitely on Bonaire's do not miss list!

Cheers,
Roger

Oh, Roger, I'm so glad you spotted your shot!! It is just beautiful and I also very concerned about posting it here without knowing who the artist was and without their permission/consent.

What a treat to watch your video again, too! Beautiful work, Roger, just beautiful.

I'll make a point of trying to shoot some pics this year....get settled in at the right time and place and wait...patiently wait...well worth it, tho.

Thanks again, Roger! Carole

I thought we had debunked this myth years ago, but it is not true that they fly daily to Ven. Yes, a few will make the trip and spend a few days feeding then return, but there are not gaggles, flocks, hoards, etc. of birds going back and forth on a daily basis to visit Sr. Chavez. It is just a bit of misinformation that has been perpetuated out of proportion like the statement that flaminogoes out number residents, another myth.

You mean to tell me there are NOT more flamingos than humans on Bonaire? Oh my! LOL.

I guess we lucked out the time we saw them flying overhead. I'll probably "make" Joe go down there with me, anyway, "just in case"! LOL.

Wanna come, too, Michael? Might find some NY Bagels (no fruit), some Folgers and a NY Times down there, too! LOL. Perhaps some Melinda's XXX hot sauce? Yummo! cb

Okay Michael, you've let yourself in for some gentle tweaking

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quote:

but it is not true that they fly daily to Ven.[sic]

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Funny stuff, Rog! cb

OK, how about references for the flights to/from Venezuela?

Roger's pic/video is pretty and, certainly, flamingos are seen in the air along the shores of Bonaire but...that is long way (intended!) from proof that ANY flamingos fly to Ven., let alone that it is a regular thing by any number of them.

So, Roger, references, please!! :–))

<google-fu>
Here's Mike's source (tho he left off the critical place), #1 in search

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quote:

Contrary to popular belief, they are not all flying off to Venezuela, although some undoubtedly will reach the South American coast.

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Wow, I didn't mean to stir such a debate!! I just threw in Venezuela because I had heard that. But more importantly I thought I would go see them leave since I am arriving so early if it were true.

Thanks for the insight and information.

Wendy

That's ok, Wendy. You stimulated at least Roger and me to some action! Really a small debate and all to the good.

TKS, Roger. As you said in different words, all the entries (first four pages) are anecdotal except perhaps the JSTOR papers that are unavailable here. It would be interesting to know numbers from science. As you said, maybe Jerry will chime in.

I believe you and Michael are in agreement that some flamingos do fly between B & V and that the fun is watching them flying near Bonaire but there is no 'mass flight daily'. :–))