One of the pleasures of living in Florida is coastal life and the abundance of various wetland ecosystems. For those of us that live here, I am sure the American White Ibis with it's distinctive curved bill is a somewhat frequent encounter. Even the University of Miami's mascot pays tribute to this waterbird.
There are 28 species of ibises throughout the world. In ancient Egypt the African Sacred Ibis was worshiped as the deity Thoth, an ibis-headed man who ruled over writing, math and magic.
The American White Ibis can be found in groups looking for food in mud and grasses. The ibises pictured above are not part of the Zoo Miami exhibit, but just visitors to the lakeside at the facility.
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Habitat: Tropical mangroves, salt marshes, swamps, and forests ranging from Canada through South America.
Threats: Population is stable, but vulnerable to human disturbance while nesting and toxic pollutants that can cause eggshells to weaken.
Sources:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibis
http://www.arkive.org/white-ibis/eudocimus-albus/
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