Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-07-03
FLAMiNGO CITY FOUND.
Discovery of Birds in q Remote IA
hama lsiet,

mihSo group at the American Museum
of Natural History have any idea that
1t represents a noteworthy achievement
of ornithology.
Since the study Of ornthOlogy arose
the famingo metropolis was one of the
chief undiscovered cities of BirdIand
Other great capitals of the bird world
were explored and photographed-the
distant farallones in the Pacific, where
millions of gullS, pufiins and cOmorants
congregate; ShOal lake, the north
western capital Of the marsh birds:
Pyramid lake and Pelican island. both
capitals of the pelican folk; Cobb's is
land, the Virginia metropolis of the
seabirds; Gardeners island, populous
fisllhaWk city, and many other bird cit :
les scattered over the face of the earth
But the metropolis of the fiamingo folk
remained the Lhasa Of Birdland, the
North pole of the ornithologist. Shy
est of birds, building its nest on remote
tropical islets. no white man had ever
seen the fiamingos breeding place.
The picture Of this possible city, as
suggested by sentinel rows Of the bril-
liant birds outlined against the blue of
tropical seas and skies, has haunted
the naturalists of the world What a
bird city would that be with thousands
Of these flaming forms collected within
its boundaries.
For years this vision tormented
Frank Chapman, bird man at the
American Museum. until in 1902 he
made his first trip to the Bahamas in
search of the reality. He found a city,
and counted 1000 dwellings,. But all
We're empty. No one in the world knew
when the wise bird nested. Moving
day had come, and parents and chill
dren We're all dispersed.
When l counted those 1000 nests in
a space of 3Ox1O0 yards said Mr..
Chapman, Il knew that I should never
rest again until l had seen the most
striking sight in the bird world"
For two years this sight tormented
his dreams. He worried over it in his
sleep.
He established relations with one of
the twelve white inhabitants of the is
land Of the famngoes. What island
this is MI. Chapman does not tell. He
is keeping the secret of the fiamingo
folk.
Negro scouts We're sent out to locate
the flamingO city. All returned unsuc-
cessful but one. faithful Peter. When
Peter reported the discovery of the
city. Il Q word fed over the wires to
MIR. Cha Dman. then in Florida.
He started Immediately for the island
in a schooner, there being no steamer
service. For nine horrible days they
beat against Gains, squalls and head
winds. to land finally in rainstorm
which precipitated six inches of mois-
ture in two hours. Then three days
more they spent in rowboats, thread
ing tortuous channels and Tiny creeks, |
linong endless unmapbAE sandbanks
and wastes of mari and mango swamp.
Twelve days, and who knew but the
little flamingoes would be Matched and |
g one.
They searched the point where Peter
had located the flamingo city. 1t was
Just behind a low screen of woods, he |
said. - ~ az
The ornithologist cref1 through those |
ow woods in a state of excitement |
which amounted to physical pain. Was |
t possible that the expectations 81 !
ears was about lobe realized III -
No. ruined city lay on the other |
side of the woods. Nests washed away, |
hundreds of broken eggs. showed how |
disastrous the storm which had visited |
me bird city. The Disappointment was |
lcutn. ~ NJ
AS It last hope Peter was sent away
% the old city of 1902. tGpon his re-
urn JOY reisned in the rowboats. The
~ trhn
first. had escaped the flood, and the
1amingoes were there.
The partyslanded on the only point
If solid sand large enough to hold their
tent. although they could, reach a
:and. into the water on sfthfk side.
Not bird was near, but Ps{er 1nted
over the waste Of mud TO a. low lying
pink cloud a mile away-just a Aush
If pink on the ground.x
The ornithologist ranged through
he mud. wading. sloshing. struggling.
In ten minutes he had reached a point
where the glass resolved the pink cloud
INTO pink birds. An understandable feel
ng of exultation POSSESSED him.
Suddenly Il deep ,honk sounded the
alarm through Flamingo City. The
loud moved upward. -
THE earth seemed to discharge
birds" says Mr.. Chapman.
In a flaming stream they poured to
J lagoon not far away. Twice they
they swept toward the intruueFs in |.
almost terrifying Afass, but
and returned without attack
ng.
The next morning Mr.. and Mrs.
Chapman. returned. and the birds fed
IS before. Mr.. Chapman hastily ;raisedi
1is blind. 1t wassa large umbrella With
4 drapery4of valance sewed around thief
bottom, SO that when opened and ti1est
handle stuck in the ground, 1t made i
little round tent. coiored a greenish
gray. -
Mrs. Chapman started back to the
boat. Mr.. Chapman crept inside the
umbrella. prey to intolerate ankle |
ty. Would the birds return?
Twice they swept toward Mrs. Chap
man and back to their lagoon. Then it
was proved that the famingo cannot.
count two. Their reconnaissance /
showed a moving figure rapidly grow
ing smaller in the distance. Their ed
ncation had been neglected. They |
could not tell that two had come and
only one had gone. 81 /