School board member throws out flamingos, company out $600

PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 21 (UPI) -- An Oregon company specializing in "flocking" homes with pink flamingos said it is out $600 after a target, a school board member, threw away 100 plastic birds.

Wendy Ettelson, co-owner of Hillsboro-based Think Pink, said "flocking" involves a customer paying to have a target's yard filled with the plastic birds, usually to celebrate a birthday or other event, but a Portland School Board member apparently took exception to 100 of the birds being placed in his yard with signs reading "settle the flocking contract," an apparent reference to the board's ongoing contract dispute with the teachers' union, the (Portland) Oregonian reported Tuesday.

Ettelson said a total 300 of the birds were placed in the yards of three school board members, but only one threw away 100 birds, worth $600.

"We're not asking for compensation," Ettelson said. "We just want to know where our birds are."

Ettelson said the 4-year-old company has flocked more than 2,000 people.

"But we've never had this kind of a response," Ettelson said. "What has happened to our small business is so upsetting and unwanted."

Ettelson said the company always leaves large signs in flocked yards with company brochures and information including a promise to remove the plastic flamingos in 48 hours.