©Delores J. Knowles 2008 -- Taking a picture of an American Flamingo (Pheonicopterus ruber) in Florida is amost a requirement so here’s one to add to the hundreds you’ve seen before. This tall, long- legged, long-necked pink bird is a staple in our Southern culture -- even if they’re made out of plastic. For those of you who have never visited our lovely state, the plastic pink Flamingo lawn orament, while not as popular as it was 20 years ago, is still seen decorating many lawns across the state. The American Flamingo has a wingspan of about five feet and the birds stand about four feet tall. That magnificent beak plays a large roll in their manner of feeding. The beak is held upside down in the water, and while the bird sucks in water, a built- in flitering system keeps the water out, only letting in their primary diet of small insects, crustaceans, and algae. Photographed on Sanibel Island, Florida.