One of the two species of birds you CAN spot in the US the is pink because of its diet, the Roseate Spoonbill is easier to spot than the American Flamingo (captive flamingos with clipped wings don’t count). Speaking of Flamingos, Ohio recorded its first ever American Flamingo, as did other Midwest states, last fall when hurricane season blew some off course! The Roseate Spoonbill is a phenomenal, amazing, just-stare-at-it-all-day kind of bird.

The first time I saw a Roseate Spoonbill (my “lifer Spoonbill”) was in Ding Darling NWR. I saw them at comfortable range through binoculars and just stopped dead in my tracks. I must’ve spent nearly an hour just starting at these birds. It was my 193rd identified bird species, and I saw them on March 6, 2000.