CHAMBERSBURG – A flock of flamingos has been spotted in St. Thomas Pond in Chambersburg, after being pushed north by Hurricane Idalia.
The birds were first seen on Saturday morning, there were about 30 people gathered at the pond to see them. Some people said they had traveled four hours or more to get a glimpse of the rare birds.
Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida on August 30 as a Category 3 storm. The strong winds and heavy rains from the hurricane are believed to have pushed the flamingos north.
Flamingos are not native to Pennsylvania, but they have been spotted in other states, including Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Ohio, in recent days. It is possible that some of the flamingos will remain in the areas where they landed, but most likely they will return to their natural habitats.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is advising people to stay away from the flamingos and to not feed them. The birds are wild animals and can be unpredictable.
The flamingos’ appearance in Pennsylvania has been a welcome surprise for many people. The birds are a beautiful sight, and their presence has brought a touch of Florida to the Pennsylvania countryside.
