Story of our Name

We are often asked how we arrived at the flamingo as the symbol of our company. Sun, sandy beaches, palm trees, everglades, and wildlife… all evoke images of Florida, but one icon stands beak and feathers above the rest… the pink flamingo.

Ironically, even though wild flamingos are rare as a snowstorm in the Sunshine State today, they grace Florida post cards and souvenirs, stuffed toys, lawn decorations, and are the official symbol of the state lottery! Probably not native to Florida, Flamingos were cited as far back as 1832 by John James Audubon, the famous painter and naturalist, who first reported seeing a flock in the Florida Keys.

Even if they are immigrants, this simply puts them in the same class as the majority of the humans who have migrated to Florida. Regardless of their origin, in the early 1900s the birds were apparently hunted nearly to extinction for their beautiful plumage. Fortunately, new flamingos were added. The most notable being in 1930 at Miami’s Hialeah Park Racetrack. Visitors were amazed by their distinctive synchronized “marching.”  They quickly became the quintessential Florida symbol.

With the Florida land boom of the 1950s, Florida was being heavily hyped as the ultimate tourist destination and a paradise for retirement living. The flamingo came to symbolize Florida living, retirement, leisure, and a healthy environment in an exotic locale. The flamingo frenzy was further rekindled in the 1980s with the popular television show, Miami Vice, which featured a flock of flamingos in its opening credits, re-cementing the birds as a Florida icon.

Although not the official state bird, the flamingo holds that honor in popular opinion. Their reputation may be old and retro, but it is also respected and revered. It has become a permanent part of the public’s consciousness about Florida. The flamingos themselves are bright, bold, and family oriented birds, which have a demonstrated responsibility for the care, feeding, and welfare of others. Their very presence spreads good cheer and has improved the community where they created a home. They are the symbol of Old Florida and the spirit here. They parallel what we represent at Flamingo Homecare: steadfast, time honored, capable, adaptable, community minded, they are the local protectors whom older Floridians count on and recall with kind thoughts and fond memories.

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