Flamingos A long way from home

    Flamingos are often seen in front yards as plastic yard ornaments, and double as stir sticks in fancy lounge drinks. This evening, the Albuquerque zoo is hosting a music concert. Surrounding the stage, families and friends have spread umbrellas, blankets, folding chairs and wait for Ryan McGarvey, a local boy made good, to sing and play his electric guitar. Newspaper stories say Ryan has performed with the British rock and blues legend Eric Clapton. Flamingos at the zoo, this evening, can’t be charged with not sticking their necks out. Tonight’s concert will sound, to them, like the bellowing of hippos and their tall graceful necks will move to the music like a conductor’s baton. Julie and Nathan, California Chris’s sister and her boyfriend, like the concert, and especially love the rain and stormy skies. Spectators huddle under umbrellas, blankets,plastic tarps, and the music, all by itself, out- dramas the weather. Seeing flamingos in New Mexico is as surprising as it would be seeing roadrunners in Florida. Hanging out with those of your own kind seems to be rooted in nature. We humans are always trying to outdo nature’s design.