Large White Ibis. Ft. Myers, Fla. Feb. 2021. Paul Goldfinger
Where we live in southwest Florida, small white ibis birds, quite common, travel in little tribes and show up on one’s lawn, pecking with their curved beaks thrusting into the grass like chickens. Some say they are “Florida pigeons.”
But while those tribal versions are small, perhaps 8-12 inches, today a variant appeared which is much bigger, perhaps 2 feet long, but otherwise looks similar. This is a white ibis, large size.
Foraging small white ibis Paul Goldfinger photo. “Let’s get the flock out of here.”
And it is also different in that it is not scurrying about with the flock. It stays in the same small zone along the edge of the Camelia River, quite by itself. Later another one shows up.
The other characteristic is that it is fearless. I could practically walk up beside it.
Here is “Casanova’s Kiss:” By Marco Beltrami. Nothing to do with birds: