#flamongo

When Travis Budgeon began working at the Butterfly Gardens, the horticulturalist met all sorts of bugs, and one particular bird.

“I noticed him,” Travis says, recalling working around a flamingo named Mango. “And kind of took a liking to him.”

Mango had seemed heartbroken since losing his partner of 45 years.

“We’ve had attempts of trying to pair him up with other aquatic birds, to no avail,” Travis says before laughing. “Until the horticulturalist decided to take on the task of trying to feed the angry flamingo!”

Despite looking pretty in pink, Mango is particularly prickly.

“He’ll attack the koi (fish),” Travis laughs. “He’ll attack the butterflies.”

And, Travis was told, he’ll attack the staff.

“(He’s) kind of an irritable old man,” Travis smiles.

And seeing as the flamingo was set to celebrate his 50th birthday—which is double these bird’s life expectancy in the wild—it was unlikely that elderly Mango would change his ways. But Travis decided to give it a go.

“I got nipped for quite some time, probably about six months of nips,” Travis says, before revealing the reason for his perseverance. “I’m stubborn.”

And then, one day, Travis noticed that Mango would move around to watch wherever he was working. So, the horticulturalist said hello and the flamingo responded.

“He trumpets as soon as I say his name,” Travis says before imitating Mango’s call. “(Maybe he’s saying) Hello! Hello!”

So, Travis cautiously approached Mango, keeping his hands behind his back, and then stood very still in front of the bird.

“He would point (his head) directly at me and would start taking a step closer to me,” Travis says. “And I would take a step closer to him.”

They kept stepping towards each other until it seemed like they couldn’t get any closer. And then Mango showed him they could, by leaning his full weight into Travis’ body.

“When you’re considering an animal that spends 99 per cent of his time on his feet,” Tracie says. “To find someone to lean against, that’s a huge trust factor.”

And instead of nipping Travis, Mango stretched out his neck to started nuzzling him.

“It’s an honour,” Travis smiles. “It’s a real honour.”

Now that Mango consistently cuddles his man, Travis has earned a new job title.

“I’m the emotional support person for an elderly flamingo,” Travis smiles.

While Mango has chosen Travis to be a member of his flock, Travis has accepted Mango as his feathered friend.

“I find most creatures, like most people, are looking for a connection,” Travis says, before bending down to kiss the top of Mango’s head and stroke the feathers on his chest.

“We just need to be aware and open to finding those connections.”