White ibis, 23 August 2006
I'm now officially in Bird Mode... It usually works like this. I'll spin through cycles of interest. Over the break, I was in post-punk and reptile mode. Right now? Right now I'm in classical music and bird mode.
So this is the glorious white ibis (Eudocimus albus), one of a half-dozen or so individuals who were scavenging along the Sanford seawall at the edge of Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River when I shot this picture. We lived across the street from the water in Sanford. I adored walked over and hanging out with the birds. I'm not sure they loved my presence as much as I loved theirs... but still... It was quite cool getting to hang with them almost every day.
The classic lore of the white ibis in Florida is that they're the last bird to flee before a hurricane. Maybe. Maybe not. I don't really know. But I do know that they're curious, busy-bodies who constantly hunt and peck for something to eat. I can't imagine a Florida without them. Quite fun.
I have to admit that I like your bird mode better than your snake mode. Can't get into snakes.
The White Ibis is such a gloriously white white bird. A lot of birds that are classified as white aren't that pure white like the newly-fallen snow. That's why I've alwayve liked the Ibis.
Posted by: Poietes | Sunday, 11 January 2009 at 01:05 PM
Heh. Well, I can focus on the birds for a bit and hold the snakes off for a little while... but probably not for too long. Spring is coming! And spring always brings a fresh round of reptile fever!
I couldn't agree with you more on the ibis. Just gorgeous. Almost too white. I've never really been able to shoot the white very well. It blows out the image. But hey, of all the problems in the world, being too brightly beautiful ain't at the top of the list!
Posted by: Janson Jones | Sunday, 11 January 2009 at 05:58 PM
Okay, now that you are in bird mode maybe, just maybe, all my woodpeckers will come back. I hear them but they are no where to be seen. I finally got a new camera and now I can't find any pileated woodpeckers and I have several around my house alonf with the downy, red-beelied, and the hairy. As soon as I can get a good pic I will send to you.
Posted by: Sharon | Monday, 12 January 2009 at 07:12 AM
Oh, I do miss those fantastic pileated woodpeckers. If only I'd had my current camera back then! Try as I did, I never could get a great shot at one of them. So darned bouncy! But awesome to watch.
Send me your shot when you get one! (And yes, you will get one!)
Posted by: Janson Jones | Monday, 12 January 2009 at 07:21 AM
We were in Walt Disney World last April with our family and we all loved the birds - especially the white ibis. They were everywhere in the parks, walking around close to all the people. So thanks for all the pics of Florida birds.
And yes, I always think the same about the gulls - "Finding Nemo" with mine, mine, mine. We're in the Puget Sound in Washington state, so we hear the gulls all the time as well.
Pat (from Washington state and the Mudflats)
Posted by: Eeyore | Wednesday, 14 January 2009 at 12:53 AM
Heya, Pat! I do love how the ibis hang out around Disney. We were at Animal Kingdom and kept thinking how jealous all the animals must've been of the ibis, who could come and go as they please.
I'm just learning the Pacific Northwest gulls. Quite awesome. I'm looking forward to spring/summer this year. Going to go photo-heavy on the birds up here!
Hope all is well and god bless the Mudflats!
- janson.
Posted by: Janson Jones | Saturday, 17 January 2009 at 09:57 AM