Flamingos Crash Cresco

 
Despite their travels throughout Monroe County, Wednesdays flocking of Weiler Brush in Cresco has thus far been the most northerly extent of their migration. Our flock found a well groomed spot to land and brush up on their fundraising skills. Weiler stepped up to the plate and we're one flocking closer to opening the shelter doors.

The Fiscal Flamingo Seeks Advice?

 
Once again our flock seeks financial advice as they raise money to open the doors to the shelter in Stroudsburg. Brian Stone and Christine Trembly were excited to receive a flocking and offered up not only financial advice, but a nice contribution to AWSOM! Thanks guys!

Fun Flamingo Fans!

 

Flamingo Fan Club at American Candle

 

Flock Lights Up American Candle!

At last count, our fundraising flock of pink flamingos have visited at least 10 area businesses in their quest to raise funding and awareness for an animal shelter in Monroe County run by AWSOM, Animal Welfare Society of Monroe! The participating businesses have made generous donations in support of our flock and we're closer to a true "OPEN HOUSE!" The open house will support AWSOM's efforts to help homeless companion animals in the county through an already existing network of rescue groups, foster homes, animal advocates and public support. The essential ingredient still missing is adequate funding. Area businesses and individuals have rallied in support of an open animal shelter. American Candle on Route 611 in Bartonsville requested a flocking, and prepared for their arrival. After a fueling stop at Friendly's of Tannersville, the pink posse flew down to light up American Candle and they were warmly received. Employees in pink outfits wore flamingo earrings, and one eager employee went so far as to DYE HER OWN HAIR PINK!!!!! Think Pink was the order of the day and Candle customers were able to use pink flamingo coin canisters to also donate! As MellowYellow drove by American Candle at 1am, the pink flamingos still burned brightly through the dark of night! What a bright reception for our fundraisers! Thanks to all.

Found! Friendly Flamingo in Tannersville!

 

Are You Nuts? It's a Blizzard in There!

 

Winged Migration; Wrong Turn!?!?

It's been a few days since we've heard a word from a certain bird! Our wayward bird was last seen barreling south on I-95 getting a head start on the rest of the flock! While a certain flamingo fetcher laid chase, the rest of our fundraising(or is it funraising) flock took stock of the situation and decided to really hit the air and multiple sites throughout the Poconos to add to the bank account needed to open the doors of our local animal shelter. While MellowYellow and his pink companion took a siesta South of the Border, the flock paid visits to several area businesses and supporters to keep awareness sky-high and funds flying in! With all the airtime our flamingos are logging, they get very hungry as you might imagine. While there are lots of questions about the regular diet of wild flamingos, our gluttonous gang are all about carb-loading for the long haul ahead! The flock typically avoids cold weather but when they heard of a local Blizzard, they descended on Dairy Queen to learn more. They went nuts and ordered everything in flight(or is that sight)? Apparently some of our local car crazy animal lovers flock to the Dairy Queen on Route 209 on Friday nights and they offered to drive some of our weary flock around to give their wings a much needed rest. More to follow!

Route 611 Sighting!

 
While southbound on Route 611 from Bartonsville to Stroudsburg, one of our fearless flamingo followers photographed the flock just outside of John J Riley's office. Apparently the group seeks to wisely utilize the generous donations they've received to fund investment accounts with their eye to the future.

Financial Flamingo Advice!

 
Our fundraising flamingos continued ther winged migration through Monroe County raising funds and awareness to reopen the former SPCA shelter property. After an nighttime layover at Creature Comfort Veterinary Service in Saylorsburg, the birds heard that the money raised from participants exceeded $1000 and our financial picture was improving. The little flockers remembered meeting John J Riley,CPA at the recent Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce breakfast held at Brownie's in the Burg on Friday. Knowing that the economic picture in the Poconos is highly variable and that they needed to protect their investments, the flock landed on Route 611 at the office of John J Riley, Certified Public accountant. John had publicly pronounced his support for AWSOM, not actually knowing at the time what that entailed. John found out today when pulling into his parking lot what all the fuss is about. A couple photos of his very public flocking are available and proceeds continue to roll in

Wayward Bird Safe and Secure!

 
Despite multiple reports of a flamingo floating around separate from the flock, this flighty flamingo was finally located. There had been rumors one of the female flamingos took off on her own, but it appears that she is very much alive and well. Apparently this flirtacious bird had heard that today was the rain date for the Camp Papillon 2009 Build the Sanctuary Charity Ride and caught a ride with one of the participants. The group started to flock together at Neds on 9th in Stroudsburg Sunday at 10am and at least 75 bikers showed up to raise funding for Camp Papillons' Sanctuary Fund. The ride took off at noon and though most migrations this time of year head north, this group flew southbound for the Riverview Grille in Easton where the flock was fed and listened to live bands all day! Our "missing flamingo" was finally photographed riding passenger with "MellowYellow on his Gold Wing!" Everyone appeared to be having a great time and the ride organizers were "tickled pink" by the turnout for a Sunday Rain Date! This event shows there is room for multiple rescue efforts in the Poconos and also shows that animal advocates like to participate in animal events of all types. The president of Animal Welfare Society of Monroe,Bill Hoffman, and his wife Lori of No Kill Monroe County were spotted supporting this event along with Board of Director member, Clair Thompson. Camp Papillon had a fantastic event and participants had the chance to catch up with Geri, Heather, Barb and many of the Camp Papillon group. Great day for the animals of Monroe County.

Didn't Have a Leg to Stand On!

 
Two of our fearless fundraisers were photographed leaning awkwardly against the waiting room wall during last nights veterinary visit, as they really didn't have a leg to stand on?

1 Found Kitty/Over 20 Found Flamingos!

Feverish Flamingos Part Two!

Some of the flock was found to be feverish after spending last night out in the rain. Our flamingo wranglers took the birds to the only 24/7/365 emergency veterinary hospital in Monroe County, Creature Comforts Veterinary Services in Saylorsburg. While the veterinary team worked to help our homeless flock, the remaining birds chose the parking lot planter to roost and rest for the night. 1st Sighting of Flamingos in the West End!

Feverish Flamingos!

Last night spent standing in a cold rain did not help our flock of flamingos any. At 11pm tonight one of our flamingo wranglers stopped by to check on our homeless feathered friends and noticed more than one droopy beak on the birds! The birds not surprisingly seemed restless and the decision was made to seek professional advice. The flock was rounded up and rushed to the only 24 hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year emergency veterinary hospital in the Poconos, Creature Comforts Veterinary Services in the West End. Enroute to Saylorsburg, our birdherder called ahead to let the staff know they were on the way with at least 20 possibly sick,some seriously, flamingos. The staff of Dr Karin-Susan Breitlauch lept into action and tended to numerous birds before the flock finally chose to roost overnight in the planter in front of Doctor Karins' office. Sleep tight all night as these flamingo friends stand sentry out-of-doors.

Birds' Eye View!

 
The first few flamingos have flown away and posted this birds eye view as they flew the coop. Where will they turn up tomorrow?

Why's The Colonel Looking Our Way?

 
Flamingos are flighty enough without drawing stares from the Colonel and Crew at Kentucky Fried Chicken in the background! They actually appear to all have their backs to the Colonel and their beaks into the wind, ready to fly away!

Shivering Stork Sighted!

Who's the birdbrain that can't tell a stork from a flamingo? Even on a dark, dreary, rainy night any novice birder can pick out my pink plumage against a backdrop of petunias! OK, I don't know flowers either! Back to basics, which are 1) It's Dark! 2) It's Cold! 3) I'm Wet! 4) I'm Lonely! 5) I'm Hungry! and 6) You Can Help!!! See http://www.awsomanimals.org/ for ways you can stop the suffering now!

It's Raining Cats and Dogs!

It's 930pm Friday night and pouring rain outside! At last news our fuschia flock was still standing stoically outdoors and they are certainly soggy! Like other homeless animals in Monroe County they really have no place to go to seek shelter. The sudden closure of the SPCA at the Godfrey Ridge Road property in Stroudsburg was unexpected. The building remains vacant! While local animal advocates work to secure a lease and funding to re-open the doors, animals endure the elements! While I sit indoors enjoying the comforts of home, dogs and cats that previously could be sheltered indoors wait for a decision? The decision can be simply stated,how can I help? Our feathered friends hunker down to endure a night in the rain to increase awareness and funding to "RE-OPEN THE SHELTER!" They hope that by their highly visible presence in the Poconos, money will pour in like the rain to ensure the growth of this groundswell movement. We will all sleep better at night! I know a flamingo or two nods their beak in agreement on Main Street in Stroudsburg tonight.

Can Ken and Company Help?

 

Spa Day?

 

Finding the Flock?

Avid birdwatchers showing up this morning to catch a glimpse of the rarely recorded pink flamingo in East Stroudsburg came away empty-nesters! The flock had flown the coop! Thanks to the generosity of Pocono Dental Associates and Wellspring East, over $500 was raised for the Animal Welfare Society of Monroe in less than 8 hours! Fearing the flock might distract drivers and cause commotion on East Brown Street, AWSOM volunteers took the birds under their wings and found them safe haven overnight at an undisclosed location, due to the lack of a proper animal shelter in the county.However, the flamingos took flight by 5am this morning and reliable sources report flamingo sightings on Main Street in Stroudsburg! Apparently there were a few ruffled feathers due to the lack of a proper shelter, and the flock was spotted resting outside the Ken and Company Spa and Salon on Main Street in Stroudsburg waiting to be taken in and properly pampered! Apparently these birds require proper care as evidenced by their choice of roosts at a dental office, holistic healing center and now the spa? The flock can be spotted resting comfortably at the intersection of Main Street and Route 191 on the corner lot outside Ken and Company. Apparently the proximity to the nearby Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise doesn't ruffle feathers on this flock! The flamingos hope to rest a while at this location and do their duty by raising awareness and funding to help meet the needs of homeless pets in Monroe County. Drive-by and you'll hear them honking!

 

 

The First Flamingo Fly-By in Monroe County!

A migratory flock of pink flamingos landed in Monroe County today! Did you get a chance to see this gregarious gang of fundraising flamingos before they took wing this afternoon. Early birds in East Stroudsburg may have witnessed our fuschia-feathered friends about 6am as they landed on the lawn at 243 East Brown Street. News crews flew to the location of Pocono Dental Associates and Wellspring East Holistic Center to document the first recorded sighting of flamingos in the county. Apparently the birds have been drawn to Monroe County searching for safe shelter to alight permanently. Assisted by animal lovers and volunteers from AWSOM, the Animal Welfare Society of Monroe, the flamingos sought temporary rest and refuge until permanent protection can be located. Resting peacefully while drawing stares from local residents, the real reason for their roosting was learned.
Apparently the county has been without an animal shelter since January of this year and our long-legged friends have stopped by to help raise awareness and much needed funding to re-open a shelter. The growing flock has threatened to land at local businesses and "poop on their premises" until business owners pony up at least $250 to help fund an animal shelter run by AWSOM! Imagine the mess this assemblage of pink poopers could cause if not herded away? Pocono Dental Associates and Wellspring East forked over $500 to quickly and quietly move the flock to a new location, but where? Watch the AWSOM website at www.awsomanimals.org to follow the flock and learn more about all our furry and feathered friends. We're considering GPS tracking or even microchipping a migrant or two to follow their whereabouts and learn where they'll show up next! For an additional $250 donation, business owners can even direct the migration to a friends(?) lawn or business. 100% of funds raised will be used to help house homeless pets in Monroe County and there will be future opportunities to add the pink flamingo to your birdwatching lifelist. Watch for their arrival in your neighborhood soon and be certain to donate to AWSOM now! Naming opportunities are even possible for private individuals to name one of these wonderful waders after a friend, loved one,boss, co-worker or even a favorite pet name.