FLOCKED: Pink Flamingoes Invade Carson Valley, Nevada

Maybe it's the abundance of standing water in Carson Valley, but huge flocks of pink flamingoes have been spotted on lawns of homes, businesses and government buildings throughout Minden-Gardnerville, NV.

A few days ago, they stood in the garden of a local firehouse. This morning, the flock assembled on the lawn of the Douglas County Sheriff's Dept. Tomorrow, who knows where they will spend the day?

Actually, this invasion of the plastic pink flamingoes can traced to the Flockers, volunteers from "Flocking to Nail a Cure," one of 47 teams involved with the Douglas County Relay for Life who raise funds the American Cancer Society.

Each Team Does Its Own Fundraising

According to Chris Beard, each team in the Douglas County Relay for Life does its own style of fundraising. "We also have a bowling event at Silver Strike lanes which we just held. Some of the other teams have car washes, bake sales, bachelor auctions and other events. "

"At the Relay itself, we decorate using our flamingo theme and usually have a few birds onsite to let us be recognized. We have signs stating "Meet the Flockers".

The Relay for Life will be held Aug. 6-7 in Lampe Park in Gardnerville and features, music groups, food, and all all kinds of entertainment and games throughout the night.

There are fifteen Flockers, but only six of those currently participate in the flockings. Victims of the Flockers have 48 hours to call and donate to "Flocking to Nail a Cure." For $20, the Flockers will pick up the birds, but for $25, donors have a chance to name of the next avian resting place.

"At first, we flocked all of our neighbors. People saw the gatherings of plastic pink birds in someone's yard and knew who would be next," Beard said in an interview with Associated Content/Yahoo!.

Beard said the Flockers have three flocks of fifty birds each: one for businesses, one for private residences, and one flock that is migrating around Carson City, NV.

"We're losing a few birds, though, because people like to take one as a souvenir," Beard said.

For two years, the group has placed these flamingoes during good weather. Last year, they collected $3 thousand in donations, but because this winter lasted well into May, "Flocking to Nail a Cure" didn't get as early a start on the project.

Nevertheless, most donors have been good-natured about finding these tacky little avians clustered in their yards. Only one person felt that he was being coerced into donating to something he didn't choose.

Flocking her Boss

When this project started, Beard, and her assistant, Dana Dolan, a dental hygeineist, wanted to flock Dolan's boss. Trying to find the house, they drove up and down the streets, passing a couple of sheriff's cars along the way. They wondered if they'd be suspected of casing the neighborhood.

"We're flocking, sir." They told him how "Flocking to Nail a Cure" uses this method of collecting donations to raise awareness of cancer treatments and survival.

The deputy regarded them with doubt, but told them to carry on and be careful. "Oh, and have fun," he said as he drove away.

Another time, the Flockers flocked the wrong house. When the 90-year-old lady found her yard filled with pink flamingoes, she thought someone was angry at her. "What did I do to deserve this," she asked her neighbor.

When Dolan learned of the mistake, she brought flowers with her apology to the woman and told her the situation.

The next night, Dolan and team found the correct house at the opposite end of the horseshoe-shaped street and flocked the residents there. But a surprise awaited them. As they placed the birds, the sprinklers came on. Dolan wondered if things like this were going to happen every time.
knew. There they sat in their livingroom watching television, when Dolan arrived with her flock. The residents' attention turned to watching her place each pink flamingo in their lawn.

As she was finishing, they walked out the front door. Dolan ran away and lost one of her flip-flops in the escape. The flockees found the flip-flop and held it for ransom.

"So, how much do you want to pay us for your shoe," they asked when she returned for it.

"Well, it cost $1.95, so you can go from there. Then you can give me a check for the birds."

While this sounds like an adult version of toilet-papering someone's house, it's done in the spirit of good humor and for a good cause. "And, unlike toilet-papering, we clean up the birds," Beard said.

No Arrests Have Been Made

In fact, last year, the Douglas County Sheriff's Dept. had a team that did a different kind of fundraising because one of their employees died of cancer. This year, however, they haven't got a team.

So, Dolan decided to flock them on behalf of "Flocking to Nail a Cure." While the team was busy, the sheriff got a call that something strange was happening just outside their building.

In moments, deputies with assault rifles and S.W.A.T. gear rushed out the door, scaring the living daylights out of Dolan and her teammate, April Hughes. Of course, when the cops saw what was going on, they stood down and joked with the flockers.

"Hey, I've always wanted to go hunting," one deputy said.

"Oh, these birds aren't good eating. They're kind of tough."

The flock was still resting on the sheriff's department lawn this morning, but if Nature runs its course, the birds will probably move on to the next refuge soon, as long as there's warm weather in Carson Valley.