Lost flamingo pays unannounced visit to school bazaar

A school bazaar had an uninvited visitor yesterday when an exhausted flamingo flew into the swimming pool and then refused to allow anyone near it. Brian Lamb, a science teacher at the American Community School, who jumped into the pool to catch the feathered friend and hand it over to vets, said the bird began drinking a lot of pool water as soon as it landed.

"It showed signs of exhaustion and dehydration and appeared to have come from somewhere very far away. It seemed too weak to stand on its feet," said Lamb.

At first no one at the charity bazaar noticed the bird. But when Lamb did, and attempted to take the flamingo out of the pool to give it better water, it rushed back to the pool. Lamb speculated that the bird had lost its way and was actually trying to reach Al Wathba lake or perhaps further. "I think it probably lost track and got separated from the group," he said.

Lamb said the bird looked much better after it had rested and had even begun to feel secure. It was taken later to the British Veterinary Clinic. Amanda Evans, assistant at the veterinary clinic, who arrived with a team, said, "The doctor will check the bird and do whatever is necessary to protect it. It is unusual that the bird landed here, but it could be that it was very tired."

When the schoolchildren first gathered around the pool to look at the bird, it didn't seem to appreciate the attention and swam away to the opposite end. The tough part was catching it and giving it to the vets. That task was left to Lamb, who was assisted by a student. They caught the bird, then wrapped it in towels and handed it over to the experts.