Just as Hurricane Ike was about to lash against the southern Bahamian island of Great Inagua its population of flamingos began to disappear.

The Island is popular with tourists and bird watchers who come to marvel at the 60 thousand strong flamingo population.

Before Hurricane Ike hit the Island most of the flock began to evacuate to parts unknown. After the storm 30 flamingos were found dead and officials are hoping a few hundred more survived by seeking refuge in the surrounding Mangrove stands.

All of the Bahamas’ birds disappeared before Hurricane Ike arrived including the Bahamas Parrot and White Crown Pigeons but they soon returned after the hurricane had passed.

The birds returned to a devastated Island of storm blasted trees and plant life. Their normal food supply had been largely destroyed or swept out to sea, making life difficult for the birds until the remaining trees begin to re – bud with fruit and berries.

“The birds are in trouble for the time being,” said Glenn Bannister, of the Bahamas National Trust.

But over 55 thousand flamingos are still missing.

“Some of the flamingos are now reappearing, but it could be one or two years before they get back to their normal nesting pattern,” said Lynn Gape, also of the Bahamas National Trust.

There have been sightings of flamingos in the southern United States, including northern Florida and Mississippi, which do not normally see flamingos. It isn’t known if the origin of the sighted flamingos are from the Bahamas.

“This is the first documented record for flamingos in Mississippi. They are sub tropical birds and just don’t fly this way,” said Mark Lasalle, Director of the Pascagoula River Audubon Center in Moss Point, Mississippi.

Flamingos are particularly sensitive to changes of barometric pressure and often fly to safety to other places when a severe storm approaches their habitat, but they also quickly return to their nesting grounds. But not this time.

Observers worry that the size and force of Hurricane Ike was beyond the flamingo’s ability to survive. Some say, hopefully, that the flamingos might have headed to land areas south of the equator.

Global warming has contributed to increasing the surface temperature of ocean water which is said to have added to the climbing severity of tropical storms. Hurricanes Katrina, Gustaf and Ike are now being considered as the norm for future hurricanes.

Experts are hoping that the Bahamian flamingos have adapted their sensory systems and are fleeing to places of refuge beyond their normal range.

Hurricanes will not turn south and cross the equator as the southern version of hurricanes, cyclones, do not turn north and head across the equatorial weather divide.

Glenn Bannister of the Bahamas National Trust hopes the birds have found refuge in Venezuela or Bonaire and is wishful that they return when their breeding season begins in January.