The Absurd Mystery of Flamingo No. 492

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  • Опубліковано 24 гру 2024

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  • @austinmcconnell
    @austinmcconnell  2 роки тому +1027

    I'M MAKING A MOVIE: bit.ly/GOATLAS

  • @TrailChaser
    @TrailChaser 2 роки тому +8292

    Hey Austin, I'm David Foreman. So cool that you made a video about my flamingo sighting. I had no idea how big of a deal my video was going to be, but I did interviews with the NY Times and a lot of other news agencies. Last time I saw him was about 3hrs after I took those two videos on my way back to the boat launch. He was still just hanging out on the point.

    • @jamesknapp64
      @jamesknapp64 2 роки тому +227

      You never know when things like this will happen. When you think something will be big; nothing happens; then a curious incident happens and it goes viral.

    • @thatpacho
      @thatpacho 2 роки тому +87

      That's pretty awesome. 492 really did just wanna flex on you tho

    • @iLikeCoffee777
      @iLikeCoffee777 2 роки тому +9

      Is the vid a TikTok one? (because I don't see it on your channel...)

    • @andrewbrown6522
      @andrewbrown6522 2 роки тому +11

      Was it fishing when running back and forth?

    • @TrailChaser
      @TrailChaser 2 роки тому +103

      @@andrewbrown6522 we woke him up, and I'm pretty sure he was trying to get away from us without having to fly off. That's why the video is short and shaky. I was zoomed in 10x trying not to disturb the birds on the point. We left the area right after the video ended.

  • @funkydude6919
    @funkydude6919 2 роки тому +2150

    "the flockless flamingo isn't just lost... he's a fugitive." I have never been more excited by a plot twist in my life

    • @firstnamelastname8058
      @firstnamelastname8058 2 роки тому +23

      To be honest, when I heard that I assumed he did something to the flock and ran away...

    • @cookeymonster83
      @cookeymonster83 2 роки тому +13

      It's a bit of a call back to America's disgusting history to called an escaped slave a fugitive to be honest. Very iffy.

    • @BierBart12
      @BierBart12 2 роки тому +3

      He's a freedom fighter

    • @donaldwirtz4731
      @donaldwirtz4731 2 роки тому +1

      It's a great perspective

    • @chrisbishop9531
      @chrisbishop9531 2 роки тому +7

      @@cookeymonster83 libral detected

  • @dr.blauerkraut
    @dr.blauerkraut 2 роки тому +4239

    To think, a flamingo, somewhere out there. Just hanging about, nowhere near home. Technically on the run. Nick name Pink Floyd. Man, what a time to be alive.

    • @vk3zen-rfdesign980
      @vk3zen-rfdesign980 2 роки тому

      i think we should repatriate him back to tanzania....send him home

    • @holycheeseduck4729
      @holycheeseduck4729 2 роки тому +4

      I see what you did there…atleast most of it XD

    • @DaveTexas
      @DaveTexas 2 роки тому +9

      Who is Nick and why is he naming things?
      Or is this the semi-illiterate way of attempting to write "nickname"? You also seem to not know the difference between commas and periods.

    • @zodiahk
      @zodiahk 2 роки тому +58

      @@DaveTexas bro it's just a wrongly placed space, it's not important

    • @dr.blauerkraut
      @dr.blauerkraut 2 роки тому +1

      @@DaveTexas I used to be just like you. Then something happened, no one liked me. I hope soon you come to the same conclusion, you prick. Good day.

  • @CallMeFreakFujiko
    @CallMeFreakFujiko 2 роки тому +376

    I live in Wisconsin. Years ago I thought I saw a flamingo but convinced myself that it couldn't possibly be, and that it was probably some weird Canadian goose or something. Maybe an Albino.
    Knowing this and that the flamingos were in Wisconsin at some point, I'm starting to wonder if I really did see 492.

    • @giuliab8484
      @giuliab8484 2 роки тому +8

      That’s a cool story! You can tell people about it lol. I bet it would be a great icebreaker

    • @loisaddy8461
      @loisaddy8461 2 роки тому +19

      That's exactly how I felt when I saw Green Parrots south of London. Turns out yup they exist and about a decade later, they'd expanded further in, nearly to the Thames. I honestly thought I was hallucinating them!

    • @AlexandraVioletta
      @AlexandraVioletta 2 роки тому +2

      Pink Floyd. Please call him by his nickname

    • @toddbennett7157
      @toddbennett7157 2 роки тому

      @@Automedon2 Monk parakeets (aka "quakers") inhabit several metropolitan areas of the United States. There've been breeding colonies in N.Y.C, and Chicago since the late seventies. Nothing new.

    • @fintanoclery2698
      @fintanoclery2698 2 роки тому +2

      There were albino squirrels in the neighborhood I lived in during college. Like tiny little polar bears, Canada's is terrifying.

  • @shen-qf9mc
    @shen-qf9mc 2 роки тому +5427

    can't believe this flamingo has basically gone through the hero's journey

    • @ThomasVanHoesenDeadpooliscool
      @ThomasVanHoesenDeadpooliscool 2 роки тому +273

      @M That's the clever subversion of expectations

    • @theangryvoltorb8638
      @theangryvoltorb8638 2 роки тому +136

      @M His home is the wilderness

    • @Bacopa68
      @Bacopa68 2 роки тому +49

      He still has time to make it back to Tanzania. Honestly, crossing the Atlantic is not that difficult. Trick is the winds won't get him to a good place in Africa.

    • @Logan-zv9lu
      @Logan-zv9lu 2 роки тому +16

      @M foreshadowing

    • @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721
      @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 2 роки тому +17

      It's just like the Odyssey, but in this case humans are the monsters.

  • @BalderOdinson
    @BalderOdinson 2 роки тому +675

    Are we not gonna talk about the fact two of his companions have mysteriously disappeared? There is a possibility he's a serial killer crisscrossing the US looking for his next victim!

    • @Dark_X2
      @Dark_X2 2 роки тому +43

      The serial killler is likely a car.

    • @moritz584
      @moritz584 2 роки тому +55

      @darkx2 imagine there’s some guy in a car chasing around this flamingo to run over all of his friends

    • @margielee2088
      @margielee2088 2 роки тому +22

      So my deep dark thoughts are echoed by another. Interesting.

    • @shelbyseelbach9568
      @shelbyseelbach9568 2 роки тому +9

      Damn, literally made me laugh out loud. Good job!

    • @rhiannablumberg4803
      @rhiannablumberg4803 2 роки тому +3

      hilarious

  • @Taveren
    @Taveren 2 роки тому +6135

    We should talk about the fact that this feels like a pixar movie and then imagine at the end of a pixar movie about a fucking flamingo that escapes prison it ends with a title card that says based on a true story.

    • @stanmarsh4203
      @stanmarsh4203 2 роки тому +97

      That would be awesome 😎

    • @that1guy899
      @that1guy899 2 роки тому +169

      That would be a great movie. It's funny you say that though cuz I kinda got a Pixar cartoon vibe while watching this video.

    • @CaptainMeleon
      @CaptainMeleon 2 роки тому +78

      naming the movie "492" or "flamingo 492" would be so cool.... i really want this to be a thing now

    • @Xandycane
      @Xandycane 2 роки тому +19

      Same. 492... based on a true story. I'd watch that.

    • @FreakiFreakenton
      @FreakiFreakenton 2 роки тому +8

      Man the whole time watching this I was like what the flying Fish why isn't this a movie yet.

  • @berrey7
    @berrey7 2 роки тому +65

    Well, when they make the movie about this Flamingo, the scene with Flamingo No. 347 freezing in the snow as they say their final good byes is going to be a tear jerker.

  • @leoskits5982
    @leoskits5982 2 роки тому +3582

    The fact that they flew away during independence day is perfect

    • @DoubsGaming
      @DoubsGaming 2 роки тому +45

      Was it actually? I thought he was just restating that, that day they gained complete independence because they were no longer hiding.

    • @Riolupai
      @Riolupai 2 роки тому +131

      That's the real reason why we celebrate the holiday

    • @charlieme5150
      @charlieme5150 2 роки тому

      But he isn't American! He's an immigrant! #BuildTheWall #AndRoof #TrumpForever

    • @Jpeg.g
      @Jpeg.g 2 роки тому +18

      @@DoubsGaming you from usa? Cause july 4th is was the “founding” of the usa and an American holiday

    • @dahasolomon7314
      @dahasolomon7314 2 роки тому +20

      He's mocking us and our ways.

  • @eldermillennial8330
    @eldermillennial8330 2 роки тому +177

    I’m surprised he’s been able to get enough compatibly edible food, although evidently not enough brine shrimp, as he’s noticeably quite white. Flamingo are clearly adaptable enough that if a whole flock had escaped, we’d probably have them all over by now.

    • @TheRayfield77
      @TheRayfield77 2 роки тому +9

      Well there are Caribbean flamingo species. I was wondering if a hybrid species was possible. But I guess that would of happened by now if it was.

    • @livynotlivi8665
      @livynotlivi8665 2 роки тому +6

      There surprisingly hardy animals lol

    • @livynotlivi8665
      @livynotlivi8665 2 роки тому +4

      *theyre

    • @johnwhite1534
      @johnwhite1534 2 роки тому

      @@livynotlivi8665 *They're

    • @yvanflodin
      @yvanflodin 2 роки тому +5

      @@TheRayfield77 would have

  • @yeahyeahd
    @yeahyeahd 2 роки тому +2770

    "for the most part 492 appears to distrust humans" i mean.. i can't blame him.

    • @ACDBunnie
      @ACDBunnie 2 роки тому +146

      I'd be untrusting too if another species kidnapped me from my home, family, and everyone I've ever known, shipped me across the world, just so I could live in a cage IN KANSAS

    • @thesexybatman263
      @thesexybatman263 2 роки тому +23

      That's a whole mood and I can relate.

    • @wtr3059
      @wtr3059 2 роки тому +67

      @@ACDBunnie I'd be fine with most of that, but anything but KANSAS! Please, anywhere else!

    • @stephenmorawski430
      @stephenmorawski430 2 роки тому +7

      That's good instincts.

    • @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721
      @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 2 роки тому +18

      I mean, I distrust humans, too.

  • @Nighthawkinlight
    @Nighthawkinlight 2 роки тому +58

    I just spent 10 minutes furiously googling because I could have sworn "Flamingo No...something" was a song I vaguely remembered the title of, and I figured the video would be about the song. That was very incorrect. Love Potion No.9, maybe mixed with some Mambo No.5

  • @TheSecondVersion
    @TheSecondVersion 2 роки тому +2340

    492 and 347's Steps to Freedom:
    STEP 1: SECURE THE FEATHERS
    STEP 2: ASCEND FROM DARKNESS

    • @waluigi521
      @waluigi521 2 роки тому +13

      nice reference

    • @Nippontradamus
      @Nippontradamus 2 роки тому +8

      I got chills down my spine

    • @GrindingGearsZero
      @GrindingGearsZero 2 роки тому +26

      in the Zoo we are all brothers

    • @Kikker861
      @Kikker861 2 роки тому +71

      492: "Your turn. Come on! Step 8, Freedom!"
      347: "For you Floyd, not for me!"

    • @Joaquin__
      @Joaquin__ 2 роки тому +18

      @@Kikker861 saddest moment in gaming history

  • @WolfShadowhill
    @WolfShadowhill 2 роки тому +55

    It’s even crazier when you realize that this isn’t the first time this has happened. Back in 1988 a similar situation happened in Utah, and flamingo known as Pink Floyd escape an aviary in Salt Lake City, he was later spotted at the great salt lake every year till 2005 he’s now memorialize in several places throughout the city.

    • @margaritatabellini8806
      @margaritatabellini8806 2 роки тому +7

      The lesson: never name a flamingo Pink Floyd. He'll escape.

    • @abhijeetas7886
      @abhijeetas7886 2 роки тому +2

      @@margaritatabellini8806 now i want zoos to name flamingos pink floid and i also want all those birds to excape so as to make a legend about the pink floid flamingo and how flamingos pass down the "title" to every generation of thier kinds

  • @disguisedcentennial835
    @disguisedcentennial835 2 роки тому +1848

    Poor guy. As you said, flamingos are social creatures. I wonder how lonely he’s been.

    • @TrailChaser
      @TrailChaser 2 роки тому +351

      He was hanging out on a really popular bird point when I took that video. It's not a great place to eat, so I assume he was there for social reasons. There were about a dozen white pelicans, several gulls, but he was closest to the small terns sleeping on one leg when I first saw him. Looked like a poof ball on a stick. About 3hrs later he was still on that point hanging out near the pelicans.

    • @moritz584
      @moritz584 2 роки тому +5

      Exactly

    • @wolfetteplays8894
      @wolfetteplays8894 2 роки тому +166

      Probably fine, they just have a little trouble understanding his accent though

    • @HurtsEnd
      @HurtsEnd 2 роки тому +19

      @@wolfetteplays8894 Fr Fr do birds understand each other at all in the wild or do they only know what to stay away from and what is similar to them?

    • @wolfetteplays8894
      @wolfetteplays8894 2 роки тому +73

      @@HurtsEnd I think they might understand each other. My exotic South American bird as a kid used to be able to call over common doves and pigeons or squawk to get them away. Not to mention I’ve seen African Grays talking to budgies and finches. So I’d say they most likely can

  • @the_original_Bilb_Ono
    @the_original_Bilb_Ono 2 роки тому +75

    I have a tagged registered parrot that I intentionally didn't clip his wings because although they grow back i feel it killed his spirit because ive allowed him to fly around the house since he was just born. One day i had a few beers and while quickly letting the dog in, the bird flew out the door. I genuinely held back tears as i searched for him until around 5am as the sun was coming up. I somehow fell asleep until 6:30 when i have to get up for work. I ran outside and started calling him and heard a reply. Me and my bird are very close. I called again and heard him again. I got closer. At some point im way down the road in front of someone else's house and i was startled by him flying directly on my shoulder. No clue where he flew from i was just glad to have him back. Hes on my shoulder watching me type this now. Hes the most smart and mischievous bird i have ever came across. He can let himself out of his cage causing me to have to put a childs lock on it. I genuinely think that he thinks im his pet, not the other way around. Birds are incredible creatures. Seriously.

    • @harrynac6017
      @harrynac6017 2 роки тому +7

      Chances are higher he thinks you're his mate. Btw, a lot of parrot like birds want to return home after flying away, but not knowing the environment, they simply get lost.

    • @Taikuriketsuppi
      @Taikuriketsuppi 2 роки тому

      It just wanted too see whats outside they never leave their owners

    • @the_original_Bilb_Ono
      @the_original_Bilb_Ono 2 роки тому +3

      @@harrynac6017 im pretty sure you're right. In his mind, im his pet. Its like how parrots have seemingly no fear. All the species in the parrot family will never back down and will buck up to things that can easily kill them. A conure will intentionally pick at cats for fun. They will get themselves killed by their confidence alone.

    • @clayz1
      @clayz1 2 роки тому +1

      @@the_original_Bilb_Ono Maybe your just good buds. Doesn’t have to be as extreme as a mate, or a pet.

    • @bluefish239
      @bluefish239 2 роки тому

      You can teach your parrot free flying so he can fly safely outside, though maybe not this year cause it's a really bad year for bird flu.

  • @fierce1117
    @fierce1117 2 роки тому +2817

    I'm not over the fact that he met ANOTHER fugitive flamingo, A DIFFERENT KIND OF FUGITIVE FLAMINGO and was spotted with him multiple times!!!!!!! that's some disney movie shit right there

    • @TheLalalalani
      @TheLalalalani 2 роки тому +107

      Isn't it so cute, they were friends

    • @ddkapps
      @ddkapps 2 роки тому +65

      @@TheLalalalani I kinda got the impression they were maybe more than friends... So maybe the story isn't so Disney after all.

    • @jamesdolph437
      @jamesdolph437 2 роки тому +17

      only Disney would make unwatchable

    • @unliving_ball_of_gas
      @unliving_ball_of_gas 2 роки тому +8

      *pixar

    • @bertroost1675
      @bertroost1675 2 роки тому +37

      @@ddkapps If they are both males then it would be right up Disney's alley these days.

  • @hannuhlynn
    @hannuhlynn 2 роки тому +28

    Flamingos have been my favorite animal since I was a little girl, 8 years old, when I saw one, up close, in person. I'm 31 now and have been so happy over the recent craze of them in the last years, finally finding my favorite thing on all my favorite kind of things! This video is amazing and so entertaining. Thank you, Austin.

  • @deetheottsel
    @deetheottsel 2 роки тому +1804

    The bird being called 492 this whole time makes it sound like a damn SCP lol

    • @WhuDhat
      @WhuDhat 2 роки тому +41

      someone write its bio

    • @x900fulanito4
      @x900fulanito4 2 роки тому +55

      Well there is an (No really) flamingo scp: SCP-1507

    • @deetheottsel
      @deetheottsel 2 роки тому +125

      SCP 492
      Class: Safe
      Containment procedure: SCP 492 is currently uncontained
      Description: SCP 492 is a anomalous flamingo currently located in Texas. The Flamingo was originally captured at [REDACTED] and brought to [REDACTED] Zoo prior to escaping. SCP 492 is otherwise a normal flamingo until it is left alone. Upon being left alone the flamingo manifests another flamingo designated as SCP 492-1. 492 seems only to manifest them for a few years at most before they demanifest.

    • @cometaHavoc
      @cometaHavoc 2 роки тому +14

      @@deetheottsel how is it safe if it isnt contained thats not how SCPs work

    • @deetheottsel
      @deetheottsel 2 роки тому +59

      @@cometaHavoc there are uncontained safe classes, seeing as I wrote this out to be just a flamingo who manifests friends for itself and stays away from people I don't think it'd get anything higher then safe

  • @Spilled_Pizza
    @Spilled_Pizza 2 роки тому +34

    Oh my gosh I live in Wichita Kansas, I remember hearing about their great escape! I was very much in support of their journey, they deserved a happy life.

  • @sirreginaldfishingtonxvii6149
    @sirreginaldfishingtonxvii6149 2 роки тому +601

    Even if you may not know it, you're a legend among flamingokind, and countless humans are rooting for you across the internet.
    Shine on, you crazy diamond.

    • @sirreginaldfishingtonxvii6149
      @sirreginaldfishingtonxvii6149 2 роки тому +21

      @@RufusMufus159 Damn it, foiled by my complete lack of knowledge on bands and musical artists once again.
      It's been changed. All credit and imaginary Internet points go to this guy.

    • @Addwater4444
      @Addwater4444 2 роки тому +4

      @@sirreginaldfishingtonxvii6149 😂

    • @ITSONLYMEWATCHING
      @ITSONLYMEWATCHING 2 роки тому +1

      The wit in this comment section makes me happy for the future.

  • @bilbo1778
    @bilbo1778 2 роки тому +121

    Zoos provide a valuable service to conservation efforts and animal science in general but I thought we've mostly moved beyond incarcerating wild caught creatures? Ideally all zoo occupants should be captive bred unless the animal in question is endangered to be used to potential breeding programs to reintroduce its offspring into the wild or other research efforts to help the species. This story is a perfect example of why keeping wild caught birds is a **bad** idea and morally questionable. There's massive numbers of captive flamingos in US zoos and I'm sure they need to unload excess hatchlings from time to time - why did the Whichita zoo contract with some shady wildlife procurers in Tanzania to obtain the flock? So they could create an exhibit instantly?

    • @pissfrog
      @pissfrog 2 роки тому +10

      Unfortunately some zoos are still better than others :p

    • @darkhorsedouglas4789
      @darkhorsedouglas4789 2 роки тому +30

      This was back in 2003. Nearly 20 years ago. Most zoos now have policies about only taking animals bred in other zoos or rescued from exotic pet owners. Exotic pet rescues tend to be too comfortable around humans to be safely reintroduce back into the wild. If an animal is taken from the wild it's supposed to be because the animal has a birth defect or injury that would make it impossible to survive in the wild. Albinos for example rarely live to adulthood in the wild because they can't hide from predators or hunt prey. But generally those are moved to reservations in the respective country not exported to America

    • @no_peace
      @no_peace 2 роки тому +11

      @@darkhorsedouglas4789 they knew better back then as well

    • @mtb416
      @mtb416 2 роки тому

      Because seeing is believing. It’s how we work. Necessary evil.

    • @loisaddy8461
      @loisaddy8461 2 роки тому +2

      @@no_peace totally.

  • @ZekeFreek
    @ZekeFreek 2 роки тому +1451

    I'm just surprised Flamingoes regularly live to 40.

    • @gremlinman9724
      @gremlinman9724 2 роки тому +111

      flamingoes are like parrots but more powerful, so they live shorter lives

    • @allex_
      @allex_ 2 роки тому +4

      had this same thought

    • @AdeonWriter
      @AdeonWriter 2 роки тому +24

      The larger the animal the longer the life span, usually.

    • @allex_
      @allex_ 2 роки тому +57

      @@AdeonWriter interesting that the opposite is true in dogs

    • @martletkay
      @martletkay 2 роки тому +89

      @@AdeonWriter Birds live significantly longer than mammals at all size ranges. This is why a parrot can live longer than a human, and a backyard bird like a chickadee can live for ten years in the wild, but mice rarely live past a couple even in captivity. Lifespan also correlates with the length of time it takes a young animal to mature, generally, but birds in general also age more slowly. The oldest known flamingo was supposedly 83. I had a 20 year old chicken, and I've had several others reach 15-18 years.

  • @MidwestArtMan
    @MidwestArtMan 2 роки тому +13

    Now I want to write a story about them escaping, running away as lovers. Sadly, 347 doesn't last too long, possibly eaten while she's sleeping or when she's too cold to fly away. 492 carries on alone, looking for meaning in the world, and encounters another flamingo. They the are friends for a while, but part ways, perhaps with the other meeting a tragic end. I don't know what would be a satisfactory ending, though. Maybe he just sets off into the world to find another friend to spend time with, waiting tentatively until the time they, too, are taken from him.

  • @nates9536
    @nates9536 2 роки тому +435

    Happy reminder that most flamingos are significantly older that the children who come to admire them

  • @danielyoung7534
    @danielyoung7534 2 роки тому +2

    I love how you narrated this like it was a great jailbreak of the 1920s of two daring bonnie and Clyde birds

  • @kari_sims
    @kari_sims 2 роки тому +1274

    Another amazing video of an absurd, yet interesting story i would've never known about if it wasn't for you Austin

    • @Victini7472
      @Victini7472 2 роки тому +4

      oh my god you just made me remember austin is the capital of texas, which is where this takes place lol
      HOW DEEP DOES IT GO??????????1??

    • @Shaggylicious
      @Shaggylicious 2 роки тому +2

      @@Victini7472 very deep 😜

    • @Shaggylicious
      @Shaggylicious 2 роки тому +2

      @@Victini7472 to be more specific it's 17 inches deep .

    • @Victini7472
      @Victini7472 2 роки тому +3

      @@Shaggylicious thank you norville "shaggy" rogers from the television series scooby doo

    • @oldmech619
      @oldmech619 2 роки тому +3

      This story has been flying around the internet for awhile

  • @dinglemcspringlefairy9050
    @dinglemcspringlefairy9050 2 роки тому +2

    I don't think anyone could have written a more compelling story if they tried. From breaking out on independence day to losing his partner in crime to vibing wherever he pleases. Truly an inspiration
    Shine on you crazy diamond

  • @noelle9329
    @noelle9329 2 роки тому +501

    There’s another story about an escaped flamingo who is also nicknamed Pink Floyd! This one escaped the Tracy Aviary (Salt Lake City, UT) in 1988 due to the staff forgetting to clip the wings. He hung around the Great Salt Lake every once in awhile and was last seen in Idaho in 2005.

    • @the_big_har
      @the_big_har 2 роки тому +9

      ayyy i live in salt lake

    • @arfansthename
      @arfansthename 2 роки тому +50

      Man these Pink Floyd flamingos always escaping

    • @Rose.Of.Hizaki
      @Rose.Of.Hizaki 2 роки тому +46

      @@arfansthename escaping to the dark side of the moon

    • @tomasc7728
      @tomasc7728 2 роки тому +2

      I was just gonna comment that this reminds me of the Great Salt Lake's boi Pink Floyd

    • @KnuttyEntertainment
      @KnuttyEntertainment 2 роки тому +4

      Also a Utahn, I’ve been to Tracy Aviary. Cool place.

  • @chandra5087
    @chandra5087 2 роки тому +3

    love the way you're anthropomorphizing these flamingos thought process 😂

  • @sniderwine
    @sniderwine 2 роки тому +281

    So I’ve lived in a suburban area by Lake Houston Texas my whole life and I swear I’ve spotted a flamingo multiple times a few years ago. I would say the estimated time range would be 2010-2017;however, since Hurricane Harvey I haven’t seen the flamingo. I don’t know if this is the same one that has been captured on camera or it’s friend. I have no evidence though as I thought it was just a bird that looked similar to a flamingo.

    • @quinn799
      @quinn799 2 роки тому +7

      Could be those other similar birds he lives with now

    • @Bacopa68
      @Bacopa68 2 роки тому +20

      @@quinn799 Yeah, it's easy to mistake a spoonbill for a flamingo.

    • @sniderwine
      @sniderwine 2 роки тому +3

      @@quinn799 could be, but it’s a lake a few hours away from the coast and I’m pretty sure the other birds are coastal birds. I could be wrong though

    • @ScotchIrishHoundsman
      @ScotchIrishHoundsman 2 роки тому +12

      I’ve seen a group of three flamingos 🦩 🦩🦩 hanging out with a bunch of spoonbills on South Padre. I might have a photograph somewhere, this was probably 2008 or so. I talked to a biologist and he said that the coast was the far northern portion of the native range for flamingos from central and South America.

    • @Bacopa68
      @Bacopa68 2 роки тому +9

      @@ScotchIrishHoundsman People from up north commonly think Spoonbills are flamingoes. It doesn't help that actual flamingoes from South America sometimes show up.

  • @sarahferenc5440
    @sarahferenc5440 2 роки тому +6

    From being thrown in prison, to the great escape, to the prison number 492, this all feels like a Disney retelling of Les Mis.

  • @Goldenfurproduction
    @Goldenfurproduction 2 роки тому +575

    I was surprised to hear my home zoo named. Wichita doesn’t come up much. It’s strange to think that I probably saw him as a kid in the early 2000s. I hope he keeps on doing well. It’s certainly better there than in landlocked Kansas.

    • @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721
      @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 2 роки тому +20

      Oh of course, now that the flamingo becomes a celebrity, everyone is going to say that they've met him.

    • @trulyjaada
      @trulyjaada 2 роки тому +16

      Same!! Wichita was always a lackluster topic & nothing exciting or of note really happens here very often. When I seen Wichita pop up I audibly gasped lol

    • @gothicanimegirl44
      @gothicanimegirl44 2 роки тому +10

      @@trulyjaada yes but at least witchita has things to do around there we drove hours to get to witchita as a kid because in SW Kansas there is absolutely nothing but wheat and cows

    • @drugbuddy665
      @drugbuddy665 2 роки тому

      Cool, now DO NOT EVER PAY FOR A ZOO TICKET AGAIN. At least not from this godawful prison... this zoo is obviously paying for animals to be stolen from the wild for your entertainment, and supporting it would mean that it's now YOUR personal fault that these animals are being kept in miserable cages thousands of miles away from their home & family, for no other reason than to get you to buy a ticket.

    • @Lumberjack_king
      @Lumberjack_king 2 роки тому +6

      Lol here in Florida we have the opposite problem too much shit happens were on the news every 5 minutes I mean Florida man ain't a joke people It really do be like that

  • @hannanathan564
    @hannanathan564 Рік тому +1

    THIS MAKES SO MUCH SENSE. When I was a little kid around 15-17 years ago, I saw this thing at the Texas City Dike in the city of Texas City where I grew up. I didn’t know what it was and assumed it was an ostrich. Ostrich makes no logical sense and well, this thing could fly, so when I told people, I was heavily ridiculed. I even got in trouble by one of my teachers for telling people what I saw because they swore I was lying. You can ask anybody I know, I’ve been telling this story for over 15 years now.
    Now that I’m older, I know it was a flamingo. But I haven’t come across any story to back up what I saw that day at the beach. Until now!
    I know some folks from Port Lavaca, I’ll have to ask if they’ve seen anything similar.

  • @RadgardDelgatti
    @RadgardDelgatti 2 роки тому +74

    Merch Idea: A pair of comfortable pants with 492 wrapped on one of the legs like a prisoner tag.

    • @FirstLast-sw1gx
      @FirstLast-sw1gx 2 роки тому +1

      are you out of your goddamn mind

    • @deb2722
      @deb2722 2 роки тому +6

      Pink, of course.😋

  • @cedesect
    @cedesect 2 роки тому +12

    This sounds straight out of a book. Honestly it would work well if it got adapted into a book, with a few creative liberties taken

  • @ihopeicanchangethisnamelat7108
    @ihopeicanchangethisnamelat7108 2 роки тому +396

    The start of this sounds like the origin story of a new BBCU character

    • @okspaceman8126
      @okspaceman8126 2 роки тому +39

      The lone flamingo

    • @IncendiarySolution
      @IncendiarySolution 2 роки тому +27

      This. The mastermind

    • @austinmcconnell
      @austinmcconnell  2 роки тому +166

      Phase 7.

    • @IncendiarySolution
      @IncendiarySolution 2 роки тому +41

      @@austinmcconnell 'Ive called you all here for a very important reason. You've all had these so called 'heroes' up in your feathers for quite a while. How many times has Atlas flaunted his powers only for the Hood to fly the coop. The way I see it, the sooner we flock together, the sooner these heroes will be... Plucked.'

    • @MajorJakas
      @MajorJakas 2 роки тому +4

      What's BBCU? Is it worth checking out, whatever it is?

  • @cristiana982
    @cristiana982 2 роки тому +2

    as someone who regularly watches dark mystery content, this made me smile SO BIG. presenting this story in this format is hilarious, such a good choice. what a great story! thanks for telling it.

  • @MetalRobotReviews
    @MetalRobotReviews 2 роки тому +127

    Okay, first up: Why did I just watch a 7 minute video about a flamingo... and enjoy it?
    Second, the animation graphics are getting much better! Keep it up dude!

  • @darkghastful
    @darkghastful 2 роки тому +2

    Honestly, I am very proud of him! I hope he lives another 20 years in his new home.

  • @c28baby
    @c28baby 2 роки тому +54

    This is my spirit animal since, I too, escaped Wichita and now spend my time alone in Texas.

  • @judahcantclimb
    @judahcantclimb 2 роки тому +1

    this may sound absurd but I believe I may have spotted 492 at a friends birthday party.
    One day in late 2021 - early 2022 my friend was hosting a paintball game for his birthday party. As stereotypically texan as it sounds this was my first time playing paintball, so i was exited. After a few hours of playing we decided to take a break. We were in a large gravel lot playing some kind of ball game when somebody yelled, "is that a flamingo" I had never really looked at a flamingo before but this had to be one. It has similar coloration to 492, with long legs and a sharp beak. We all stared at it for a few seconds then went back to our game. I never thought about it until now. crazyyy

  • @darkfruit2412
    @darkfruit2412 2 роки тому +139

    this is literally the plot of Madagascar. he’s going to join a circus ring next, i bet.

  • @T..C..M
    @T..C..M 2 роки тому +4

    How do you know details of their journey where there weren’t people around? Like the drainage ditch part?

  • @RadikAlice
    @RadikAlice 2 роки тому +53

    You did _not_ need to tell the story like this, but I'm _so_ glad you did. And oh the bird puns

  • @danielvermeer3363
    @danielvermeer3363 2 роки тому +1

    this is the best and only video about a flamingo you will ever have to watch😁😁 Great!!

  • @DIMITRI_III
    @DIMITRI_III 2 роки тому +129

    i hope in some 3 years someone doesn't comment "update: he was eaten by an alligator" or whatever

  • @sourgreendolly7685
    @sourgreendolly7685 2 роки тому +399

    “He was a fugitive.”
    Most birds are, my friend.

    • @Oscar4u69
      @Oscar4u69 2 роки тому +11

      no, they are free, as it should be

    • @sourgreendolly7685
      @sourgreendolly7685 2 роки тому +14

      @@Oscar4u69 I didn’t say they shouldn’t be haha
      I’m team fugitive!

    • @WouldntULikeToKnow.
      @WouldntULikeToKnow. 2 роки тому +44

      Birds aren't real.

    • @Sleepy-yp4wx
      @Sleepy-yp4wx 2 роки тому +12

      @@WouldntULikeToKnow. Go on.

    • @chaval6903
      @chaval6903 2 роки тому +13

      @Marouan Fares birds aren't real

  • @1brianm7
    @1brianm7 2 роки тому +2

    This is like a lemmino video except for a pink flamingo instead of some unsolved mystery.

  • @OfficiallySnek
    @OfficiallySnek 2 роки тому +54

    The Iliad & Odyssey of Flamingo No. 492

  • @goaltokio3941
    @goaltokio3941 2 роки тому +3

    Surprised I cant find the idea of catching him and bringing him back to tanzania to his mates because he got 20 more years left. I mean, I think he kind of deserves it.
    Funded through kickstarter/patreon.
    Would support this.

  • @masterpieceoneday8321
    @masterpieceoneday8321 2 роки тому +62

    Don’t ever scroll pass by an Austin MocConnell video no matter how weird the title sounds. You won’t leave disappointed

  • @Quote-Unquote.
    @Quote-Unquote. 2 роки тому +1

    I like the "suspect recorded on a shaky camera from a distance" footage combined with Dateline's "this is definitely our guy music" @4:56

  • @IamJustaSimpleMan
    @IamJustaSimpleMan 2 роки тому +153

    God, I love it how you always dig out this relativly obscure stories! 😁 they are so interesting, and you and your team tell them so well, both with the visuals and the narration!
    My favourite so far was the story about the bestseller that didn't exist
    📖

  • @Ruiluth
    @Ruiluth 2 роки тому +6

    When you first said amputate, I thought you meant clipped, and I was gonna correct you. But then when you distinguished it from clipping I realized what you meant, and that's _horrifying_. As an aviculturalist myself I could never imagine doing that to any of my beloved birds. Clipping is bad enough but at least the wings grow back from that!

  • @mariposa9506
    @mariposa9506 2 роки тому +27

    I loved this story, but am somewhat devastated that you said birds of a common ilk rather than birds of a feather.

  • @tessiepinkman
    @tessiepinkman 2 роки тому +1

    This is the take on Flamingo 492 I never thought I'd get.

  • @wannabehistorian371
    @wannabehistorian371 2 роки тому +31

    I wonder how we know the details about this escape? Like how they sheltered in a drainage canal and stuff?

    • @xEqualsRandom
      @xEqualsRandom 2 роки тому +27

      According to an interview with the curator of the zoo in New York Times, they were still under the observation of park officials when they were at the drainage canal.

    • @rusdanibudiwicaksono1879
      @rusdanibudiwicaksono1879 2 роки тому +14

      As to why they didn't capture them on site, well, probably they didn't have right equipment to capture them. Net probably would hurt them, and sleeping dart probably aren't available for flamingos.

    • @rusdanibudiwicaksono1879
      @rusdanibudiwicaksono1879 2 роки тому +14

      Or they search the area and found their droppings. That works too.

  • @globalistswilllose
    @globalistswilllose 2 роки тому +3

    How neat, this reminds me of another story i saw about a guy who had swans live on his rooftop every year during mating season, he'd see them for a few weeks at a time or so, every single year and they always came back to his specific house. It was very interesting.

  • @styx1137
    @styx1137 2 роки тому

    I just found this channel and now I’m probably gonna spend the day binging these videos because you’re SO good at telling stories

  • @Ratok1
    @Ratok1 2 роки тому +182

    What exactly is the mystery here? Seems pretty well documented to me. No more a mystery than what my cat is up to while I'm away.

    • @nicholasscott9672
      @nicholasscott9672 2 роки тому +28

      I feel the same way. This story is just "exotic bird escaped from zoo"

    • @nicholasscott9672
      @nicholasscott9672 2 роки тому +14

      Title of the video is changed to remove the word mystery

    • @sirk603
      @sirk603 2 роки тому +3

      True. It seems like an interesting story, but not a mystery.

    • @proloycodes
      @proloycodes 2 роки тому +3

      @@nicholasscott9672 now its added again

    • @matthewmasucci1425
      @matthewmasucci1425 2 роки тому +31

      i think the mystery is referring to when you first see the video of the flamingo and wonder "why the hell is there a flamingo in the usa?"

  • @sgtpwnd
    @sgtpwnd 2 роки тому +1

    You've shown me your journalism chops by giving me a story in the perspective of a flamingo

  • @dyscotopia
    @dyscotopia 2 роки тому +10

    Birds are really fricking smart and resilient. I'd like to see a human evade detection that long.

    • @rusdanibudiwicaksono1879
      @rusdanibudiwicaksono1879 2 роки тому +4

      Well, for starters, most humans need cooked food, shelters, clothes, and hygiene. Birds usually less fussy about these things.

    • @Bacopa68
      @Bacopa68 2 роки тому +1

      Every person who knew me before 9/11 believes I'm dead.

    • @KingofgraceSARA
      @KingofgraceSARA 2 роки тому +1

      Her name was Harriet Tubman.

  • @GamerForLifeDrakunia
    @GamerForLifeDrakunia 2 роки тому

    Thank god you put that yellow circle in the thumbnail, I would have never spotter the Flamingo otherwise!

  • @4fives992
    @4fives992 2 роки тому +30

    I've seen this story pop up on several different sites lately and while I got the general gist your story telling and the addition of the finer details really fleshed out the story of the fugitive flamingo. While I don't know much about flamingos I am impressed by 492's loner streak. Typically when I hear an animal is "social" I usually assume their mental health is badly impacted by going it alone but 492 seems to be thriving without the company of his fellow flamingos. You mentioned the spoonbills and now I wondering if they've adopted him into their flock in some capacity.

    • @dooplon5083
      @dooplon5083 2 роки тому +4

      To be fair, humans are social creatures too and we can sometimes do very well by ourselves lol.

    • @Bacopa68
      @Bacopa68 2 роки тому +4

      Spoonbills and Flamingos eat the same food. They strain little arthropods and plants out of silt. Floyd probably learned fast that he can forage where spoonbills forage.

    • @ida_sleeps
      @ida_sleeps 2 роки тому

      I mean would you rather be in prison with a bunch of people or free with a couple of friends?

  • @reinab8168
    @reinab8168 2 роки тому +1

    I am totally rooting for 492. Get your groove on.

  • @kelath5555
    @kelath5555 2 роки тому +21

    I love learning about these things going on in the world. They're such great conversation starters, too. "Did you hear about that fugitive flamingo? Did you hear about the cobra crisis?"

  • @JamesOKeefe-US
    @JamesOKeefe-US 2 роки тому

    Austin is the new Garrison Keillor and there is no more worthy successor :) Love this Austin, thank you!

  • @Scronk03
    @Scronk03 2 роки тому +7

    Another banger from Austin. Thanks for the free, high quality content man

  • @lent1lb3an
    @lent1lb3an 2 роки тому +5

    in a time where zoos are at the forefront of responsible animal education and conservation during a mass extinction event, I don't appreciate zoos being villainized in this telling of the story.

  • @photonic083
    @photonic083 2 роки тому +32

    I love the originality, using a yellow circle instead of a red circle
    fr though all of those videos you make are very good and well researched. And they're free to watch too. Well done Austin

  • @HalFastIndustries
    @HalFastIndustries 2 роки тому +1

    It's so impressive how smart they are
    How they coordinated an escape and executed it

    • @Joplys
      @Joplys 2 роки тому

      Yes 492 is very smart

  • @jackporter3178
    @jackporter3178 2 роки тому +23

    Flamingoes rise up.

  • @DavidEFarner
    @DavidEFarner 2 роки тому +1

    This was waaay beyond entertaining.

  • @elliotmarks06
    @elliotmarks06 2 роки тому +24

    NO WAYYY. I read an article on this a few weeks ago(April 1st to be exact), and thought it was just a joke... If you didn't make this video I would have never known this was real!

    • @projectkepleren
      @projectkepleren 2 роки тому +2

      this is why I always look further into the story to see if there's another few sites that cover it and check their author and dates

  • @robertbutlin3708
    @robertbutlin3708 2 роки тому +1

    He’s a Lesser Flamingo. There are Greater Flamingos in the Americas (I’ve seen one in Texas, which was genuinely wild having been ringed in Mexico.)

  • @dev-debug
    @dev-debug 2 роки тому +14

    If anyone told me I'd be watching a video about a runaway Pink Flamingo today I'd have thought they were nuts lol

  • @cheyenneb4263
    @cheyenneb4263 2 роки тому +2

    My mom and I saw two flamingos fly overhead while we were in the car today, it’s funny that this was recommended to me. I don’t think they normally live in the northern part of Florida? I wonder if they flew out from the zoo.

  • @YahyeAli123
    @YahyeAli123 2 роки тому +12

    So sad that we don’t know what the fait of flamingo 347. 492 must feel really sad that his partner in crime is gone and likely never coming back. At least he made new friends and is living a happy life in Texas

  • @shitsquirrel9
    @shitsquirrel9 2 роки тому

    The animation of the 2d silhouettes is SO good and makes this video so so much better. Its the small touches.

  • @TrashmeisterGarbage
    @TrashmeisterGarbage 2 роки тому +20

    This Flamingo is almost certainly a stand user. Like, c'mon... 「Pink Floyd」... He's not even trying to hide it. Someone call the Speedwagon Foundation.

  • @artdonovandesign
    @artdonovandesign 2 роки тому

    This title popped up in my YT feed a few times a day. I was not going to watch a vid with this title. Finally, I gave in.
    It was worth every minute! Thanks, Austin (I should've known).

  • @dcrenshaw42
    @dcrenshaw42 2 роки тому +17

    This sounds like a plot for a pixar movie

  • @LivingEncyclopedia
    @LivingEncyclopedia 2 роки тому +3

    Huh. Wait that means the “wild flamingo” I saw as a kid was actually 492!
    No one believed me cause we’re in Louisiana. I had actually convinced myself I imagined it.

  • @lauranolastnamegiven3385
    @lauranolastnamegiven3385 2 роки тому +5

    if 482 only knew...there is (or, at least, was, can't quite confirm if they're still there) a flock of flamingos who live(d?) at Hialeah race track in Florida, if he was able to fly across the Gulf of Mexico, or over LA, MS, AL, and down into FL (they may be Caribbeans, but close enough)

  • @heidibarker9550
    @heidibarker9550 2 роки тому +7

    This flamingo's life has a similar plot to many macho revenge movies.

  • @chillwalker
    @chillwalker 2 роки тому

    Never ever did just two videos tell me: I just like this guy. A lot! brilliant and hillarious!

  • @astromonkey2
    @astromonkey2 2 роки тому +6

    I'm not exactly sure how 492 will play into the bargain bin cinematic universe but I can't wait to find out.

    • @austinmcconnell
      @austinmcconnell  2 роки тому +7

      Phase 7.

    • @thephony1651
      @thephony1651 2 роки тому +1

      @@austinmcconnell Ok, now that you’ve said this twice I can’t tell if you’re sure

  • @hokozebren
    @hokozebren 2 роки тому +1

    This is a beautiful story.

  • @mightywurm
    @mightywurm 2 роки тому +4

    I would love to see your sources to read more about the 492!

  • @walls116
    @walls116 2 роки тому +2

    I hope he never gets caught. Be free 492, do it for us all.

  • @jimmyl1772
    @jimmyl1772 2 роки тому +15

    Until now, I had no idea that flamingos can fly.

    • @BiggerR10
      @BiggerR10 2 роки тому

      Are you 10 or something?

    • @jimmyl1772
      @jimmyl1772 2 роки тому +1

      @@BiggerR10 Everyone learns something new everyday. For example, I had no idea that flamingos can fly :D

  • @giannirocco7492
    @giannirocco7492 2 роки тому

    I usually don't care for these silly films but for some reason I really enjoyed hearing about #492!Thanks for the informative and fun little update!

  • @drewstillexists
    @drewstillexists 2 роки тому +10

    I'm glad Flamingo 492 was able to escape captivity and forge his own path in life. If only more zoo animals had the opportunity to do so.

  • @frogman7131
    @frogman7131 2 роки тому +1

    Humans: this mastermind bird planned an escape plan 13 years back and everything is falling into place
    Bird: me fly now

  • @isaacthemonke233
    @isaacthemonke233 2 роки тому +7

    This just screams movie concept

  • @nintenvlogz
    @nintenvlogz 2 роки тому +1

    We need an animated movie based on this

  • @nicolebogda1482
    @nicolebogda1482 2 роки тому +10

    After watching your “30 min of useless info” again earlier today: do Flamingo’s have facial recognition like Ravens, geese, and swans???

  • @noodlepoodleoddle
    @noodlepoodleoddle 2 роки тому +1

    This is 492's world, and we are just living in it.