'Pure shock:' Hundreds flock to Green Bay for rare sighting of bird not seen in Wisconsin since 1845

 

GREEN BAY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Saturday, July 26 started out as a typical morning for Logan Lasee, who was volunteering with the Audobon to monitor an endangered bird species in lower Green Bay. 

But while he was observing the creatures at the Ken Euers Nature Area, a flash of bright pink caught his attention.

"I actually spotted the bird sitting out in the mudflat along with some other birds," Lasee told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White. 

Lasee's eagle eye had caught a glimpse of the roseate spoonbill -- a shoreline bird that uses its uniquely shaped bill to feed on fish and other crustaceans. 

"I kind of did a double take and was like, am I looking at what I'm looking at?" Lasee recalled. "Shock, just pure shock."

The roseate spoonbill was recorded for the first and only time in Wisconsin in 1845, nearly 180 years ago.

"That was a deceased bird. A couple artifacts were brought in, I believe it was like a foot and a wing, that they were able to identify as the roseate spoonbill," Lasee said. "So, this is the first ever living record."

The bird is more commonly seen in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.

I have the best assignment today ?This is the 2nd time EVER in #Wisconsin that this bright pink feathered friend has made an appearance, and the 1st time it’s been recorded alive here. Hear from bird enthusiasts and the man who first spotted the spoonbill, coming up at 5 @CBS58https://t.co/LKIzuYq49B

— Ellie Nakamoto-White (@ellienw_news) August 2, 2023

Officials are still wondering how it arrived in the Badger State. 

"We're in the Suamico area of Green Bay, and Suamico has a population of about 13,000 people," Lasee said. "In North America, there's an estimated population of only 11,000 of these birds. So, there's more people living in this area than they are this species in all of North America. That just shows even more how rewarding it is to have one right in our backyards."

It's a birder's dream come true for many like Denise Seibert, who joined the Bay Area Bird Club.

"One of us flew out of bed so fast that he forgot to put on underwear, unshowered, grabbed our gear, flew in the car drove down there. And I mean, just hit the road," Seibert said laughingly. We were all standing on the hill together watching the bird, and it was it was really cool."

Seibert has since visited the park every day to see the elusive feathered friend -- and she's not the only one.

"The lot has been full all day long. Every single day. There has not been a time where that bird has not had eyes on it in the last week," Seibert said, adding that she estimates nearly 1,000 people from across the region have come to visit. I know you can go on vacation, and you can go see it other places, but... to be that accessible to something that's so historic for our state is, is a humbling experience."

For wildlife photographer Brent Balken, he knew this was a chance to shoot something special.

"When I saw some of the posts that it's been 178 years since one has been recorded in Wisconsin, I said, I have to be a part of this," Balken said. "It was literally 35 yards away from me. It was pretty amazing to see that pink color and something we don't normally see."

And while we may never know how -- or why -- it's here, birders recommend heading up to the area as soon as possible. 

"It's always nice to get it on your life list or your county list," Lasee said. "You know there's different places you can see them, but I think this one's going to resonate."