Why This Bird?

I’ve seen this flamingo more than once here in mid-Virginia, where you really never see any real ones, and it makes me wonder. Why a flamingo? It’s probably like those things you see on license plates (especially here in Virginia, where the privilege is cheap): sometimes obvious, but often so intensely personal, there’s no deciphering it, let alone figuring out why.

Here’s another version of a bird, this one really is from Florida (a store front in Del Rey), and also false, of course.

I’m not arguing against this sort of thing. Doesn’t it make the world more interesting? 

Well, yes, real birds are more interesting still. But require more upkeep…