TIFTON — Leon and Caroline Benefield were the first hosts of this year’s annual flamingo flocking benefitting the Tift County Council on Child Abuse.

Lillie McEntyre, executive director for the Tift County Commission on Children and Youth, said that the flamingos have been flocking in Tifton for more than 20 years.

“It is the child abuse council’s way of raising awareness in the community for child abuse and neglect,” McEntyre said. “Also it’s our way of involving the community and we use it as a fundraiser.”

Whoever hosts the migrating flock pays a small removal fee to the council, who will then relocate the flock to another location of the previous host’s choosing.

After the initial flocking, the flamingos will divide into two flocks, which will migrate around town with help from the all-volunteer staff of the Council on Child Abuse.

The Benefields, as the first hosts, had the entire flock in their yard and already knew who they were going to send the birds to after their removal.

“We’re honored,” Leon said about being the first flamingo hosts.

“We’re excited that the flamingos are going to be used for a good cause,” Caroline added.

The Benefields donated the flamingos, which had spent their previous life as decorations for their son-in-law’s 40th birthday celebration.

The flamingos will be migrating around Tifton throughout the month on February.