The Story
I photographed this White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) at Gatorland in Orlando, Florida, United States, in November 2020. Its white plumage sets off a red bill and red legs. It breeds along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts and the coasts of Mexico and Central America, and it is also found on the northwestern coast of South America. Crayfish are its preferred food in most regions, but it adjusts its diet to what is plentiful. Pairs are mostly monogamous, and both parents care for the young. IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
I made this frame with a Pentax K-1 and the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6, at 1/1000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400. Wild wading birds nest over Gatorland’s alligator ponds because the alligators keep raccoons and other predators away from their eggs and chicks.
©2024 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) belongs to the family Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2021), with the population trend listed as stable. Source: IUCN Red List