Flamingos descend on Napa

Mysterious flock linked to St. A's youth programs

By NATALIE HOFFMAN, Register Staff Writer

Under a nearly full moon, members of Napa's St. Apollinaris Youth Ministry got a bit wild on a recent Thursday evening.

After approximately 20 of the teens loaded parishioners' cars with artificial flamingos, they hit the road to take part in the youth ministry's latest fundraising effort -- "flocking" unsuspecting friends and fellow parishioners.

You might not be familiar with the group's version of flocking -- so here's how it works: First, ministry members gather a few dozen plastic pink flamingos, a sign that reads "You've been flocked by St. Apollinaris Youth Ministry," and a note and donation envelope to leave at the scene of the flocking. Next, they drive to various target homes, placing the birds and equipment on the front lawns of their paying customer's choosing.

Emily Zikmund, a youth ministry member and a student at Harvest Middle School, said the group has flocked homes as far away as Atlas Peak Road. "We go out every night and put about 10 flamingos on a house. ... After 24 hours, we come back and pick them up."

Megan Dominici, coordinator of the group, said throughout June, the St. Apollinaris Youth Ministry flocked more than 100 homes, usually visiting about four homes each night. For a mere $25, parishioners are guaranteed that their friends will wake up to a yard full of long-legged pink creatures. Dominici said some parishioners took preventative measures by purchasing the group's $40 flocking insurance -- guaranteeing them immunity from the birds' imposing presence. The teens have raised more than $3,000 from their flocking enterprise, she said.

Sometimes, Dominici said, flocking victims retaliate by targeting the person who nominated to flock them with a flamingo attack.

Witnessing the St. Apollinaris Youth Ministry carry out the flocking operation is memorable. With stealthy footsteps and plastic birds in tow, the group descends upon the yards of unsuspecting residents. They work fast in spite of neighbors and passersby eyeing them suspiciously. These people are obviously on a mission.

Flocking is not without its risks. Robert Haines, a volunteer driver for the youth ministry and husband of Amy Haines, a youth ministry leader, said the group started with about 75 flamingos in early June, but their supply has somehow dwindled to 50 birds.

In addition, unloading a dozen flamingos from a vehicle can be a noisy process. Flockers can lose priceless time when the birds' legs fall off and have to be re-attached -- but none of these obstacles have stopped the determined members of the St. Apollinaris Youth Ministry.

Matt Risso, 13, said the group has flocked the rectory, sisters of the church, parishioners and priests. "You have to be really sneaky and not get caught."

Risso said the group has had some close calls, including when someone peeked out the window after flocking was barely completed.

Sarah Risso, 15, said flocking is so much fun that it's easy to recruit new helpers. "Youth ministry teens help us once and come back." Risso said volunteers usually start out with the intention of flocking someone they know but often can't stop at just one flocking.

Helen Soma, a Napa resident and parishioner of St. Apollinaris Catholic Church, said her home was recently flocked. "I think it's a wonderful way to raise money. We all thoroughly got a kick out of it. It was a great idea and the neighbors thought it was hilarious."

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