Free Sweet Peaches | Column

Let’s practice gratitude together. No, come on. Research shows that gratitude can slow your heart rate and reduce stress. Being grateful in a world that is often not grateful will walk kinder, stand with more resilience and reduce insults in Costco parking lots. That means we all fly more freely.

I am grateful that Flamingo left Tampa Bay almost two years ago. I’m double thankful that he recently sent us a little postcard. And I am grateful to Sandan that he appears to be just rosy.

Do you remember the peach? The imposing flamingo became a local mascot before two hurricane seasons that felt like a century after Florida endured in 2024. But give it a try.

The winds of Hurricane Idria were probably pushing a bundle of flamingos north from Yucatan or Cuba. Their appearance shocked locals in Tampa Bay where the main flamingo exposure was a target swim trunk or an airport art piece.

But they were pink, majestic and undoubtedly realistic. At one point, one bird was split from his group – “glamorous” if you wish. The rescuer spotted him swimming in confusion and picked him out of the water off St. Pete Beach. They rehabilitated the peaches and added trackers and numbers: US02. Peaches was the second flamingo to be tracked in the United States, offering an unusual opportunity to learn about habits and habitats.

Upon release at Fort de Soto, Peaches was hanging out and vibrated, modeling his gorgeousness for Lookloo (hello, that’s me). He planted and took a bath, then ran around the normal sky to McDill Air Force Base. For many passersby who took photos from a safe distance, Peaches has become an unexpected magical symbol that can arise from miserable circumstances.

Then, in October 2023, Peaches left us. His tracker failed, so his whereabouts were unknown until last month when researchers counting Yucatan’s nest saw the blue band and numbers: US02. peach!

Imagine being literally blown away by a hurricane, suffering from injuries and fatigue, becoming an unconscious celebrity, and gathering the strength to leave. After all, imagine finding yourself about 800 miles away, surrounded by the now thriving population of your relatives.

Transferring human emotions to animals is fascinating. When Momo was here, people assumed he was lonely. Flamingos are social creatures that nest in colonies and are divided into three times. Certain flamingos are known to wander alone at times due to long spells.

How do feelings like loneliness and sadness feel to wild creatures? I don’t know. I admit that after a horrifying event, peaches comfort themselves with a very human monologue that they require a little space, some amount of self-care. Maybe Momo really liked it here himself.

But using him as a distraction in our own low moments would be selfish to want a peach from ourselves. For peaches, research, conservation, population growth, for peaches, it is to see him with a stable father who will grow his friends, family, herds.

So, thank you Peach, for the wonderful visit and lessons on how to help you. Thank you for the poses of those charms with the Sunshine Skyway as the backdrop. Thank you for keeping in touch again. Sometimes, let go and remind you that your beauty will be ten times higher.

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