American Flamingos were introduced to Florida in the 1920s as a marketing stunt, says UCF’s Eric Hoffman, but were nearly wiped out by hunting and habitat loss. Today, they typically fly into Florida from neighboring regions or arrive after hurricanes. Some flocks remain for months, but have not established a long-term breeding population.

“These returning flocks have given us an opportunity to collect contemporary and historical samples to address questions about their genetics and population structure.” Hoffman’s team found that American flamingos in Florida have strong genetic variability and are genetically compatible with Caribbean and zoo-managed populations, supporting future reintroduction and conservation efforts.

• Eric Hoffman