Sometime overnight Dec. 26, a flock of more than 30 bright, pink, plastic flamingoes appeared at the base of Mid-Coast Energy Systems Inc.’s large Rt. 1, Damariscotta sign.
Mid-Coast Energy Systems Accounting Manager Marcia Orff reluctantly revealed she found out about the arrival of the plastic aviary via an Internet tip. “I found out that they were there on our Facebook page, and then I looked out the front window,” Orff said, laughing.
For the moment the culprits behind the flamingo-planting remain at large, however investigation focuses on a large Waldoboro Fire Dept., “You’ve been flocked!” sign amidst the birds.
“My understanding is we can let them nest here and eventually they’ll fly away, or we can pay a fee and they’ll be gone sooner, rather than later,” Orff said.
Orff suspicions that it might have been an inside job linger, especially considering two employees of Mid-Coast Energy are volunteer Waldoboro firefighters.
“Yes, we actually do have a couple gentlemen working here, Steve Smith and John Blodgett,” Orff said.
However, she added, company officials are reluctant to point a finger at anyone for possible flamingo espionage because the flock has not been checked for fingerprints.
The Waldoboro Fire Dept. is actively fundraising for its 175th anniversary celebration in 2013, and the department. Any donation to “make the flamingoes go away” would be added to that effort.
Realizing he was being interviewed on the record, Waldoboro Town Office Assessor’s Agent Darryl McKenney denied all knowledge, saying: “Now, understand this is only hearsay, but I understood it takes $25 (Ed. note: actually $20) to nominate someone to be flamingoed, and I also understand they [the Waldoboro Fire Dept.], in another case were offered $50 to pick them up immediately, but, I am not a fireman and I have no comment.”
McKenney added funds raised by being flamingo victims support the anniversary fundraising efforts.
“We’ll remove them for a little bit higher fee than what it is to put them there,” said Waldoboro Assistant Fire Chief Bill Maxwell. “They arrived on a Waldoboro resident’s lawn on Wednesday [Dec. 21] and by that afternoon, he donated $50 to take them to someone else’s house. Normally, they stay there for a couple of days before they’re picked up.”
Currently no place in Maine is safe from the plastic migration, Maxwell said. “We’re up to 18 places,” he said. “They’ve been to Thomaston twice, to Camden…there’s no county or city limit that’s exempt. The birds will fly north, south, east or west.”
The department’s fundraising goal is to fund their 175th anniversary celebration without using a dime of taxpayer money, Maxwell said. Firefighters are planning a three-day celebration with activities and entertainment available to the community at no charge.
“We plan on having a band concert and maybe a public supper where it can be free. You can just come, listen and dance, or have something to eat, for free,” Maxwell said.
Back at Mid-Coast Energy, Orff said, it’s possible Smith and Blodgett may escape consequences for any involvement in the “flocking,” considering it might have been an inside job.
As accounting manager, Orff confirmed she is responsible for payroll. “Hmmm,” she said. “Now how to make them go away?”
For more information, or to order a flocking, call the Waldoboro town office at 832-5369, or the fire department at 832-2161, or email fire@waldoboromaine.org.
