But when a crew from Los Angeles Zoo arrived to capture them, five stealthy birds were able to flee through a hole in the mesh trap.
On a second attempt, zoo officials were able to wrangle up three of the escapees.
But two remain, and zoo officials said the birds will stay until after Christmas. They might even get to ring in the new year in the place they've called home for the last two decades.
So in 1993, Blount flew to Florida with a bird expert to pick up two dozen chicks. They had a small window in which they could get the Caribbean flamingos. The birds had to be old enough to leave their mother but too young to fly.
Over the years, the group of 24 dwindled. The park now plans to unite the remaining birds with the eight Caribbean flamingos that have already arrived at the Atascadero zoo. There, zookeepers hope the flamingos form a flock and start breeding.
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