They’re proud, preening, pink and more social than anyone would expect. They’re Rhett and Scarlett, the beloved flamingos at the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory, 1316 Duval St.
And they turn 10 on Valentine’s Day.
The breeding pair of Caribbean flamingos were hand raised and have lived at the conservatory since they were 17 months old, savoring their own wading pool, lush tropical vegetation and the adoring attention of everyone who meanders through the giant butterfly atrium. Their names are the result of a naming contest.
The Key West attraction is thought to be the only facility in the country that houses flamingos along with thousands of butterflies.
Rhett and Scarlett’s craving for attention led the conservatory owners George Fernandez and Sam Trophia and their caring staff to launch weekly “flamingle” events that allow up to six guests per day to spend an hour with Rhett and Scarlett, who often join the guests in the white gazebo that overlooks their wading pond.
Sometimes the birds preen visitors’ hair, or try to sit on their laps. Other times they’re content to keep the spotlight and cameras on them as they stand tall and perform their feathered show of bowing, dancing, prancing and dipping.
Advance reservations are required for the flamingle. Visit keywestbutterfly.com for tickets and more information.
True to its name, the conservatory also houses a lively population of about 20 species of birds, lush tropical plants and thousands upon thousands of free-flying butterflies, known as flowers of the sky for their unparalleled colors.
