Platalea ajaja

Few birds in North America rival the distinctiveness of Platalea ajaja, better known as the Roseate Spoonbill. Birders nation-wide feverishly seek out this ibis-sized, flamingo-esque wader with an unmatched spatulate bill. It feeds by sweeping its prized mandible through shallow water in search of all sorts of aquatic prey.

Known mainly to the southern gulf coasts of Texas and Florida, the survival of Platalea ajaja will depend heavily on the continued preservation of America's fragile wetlands.

I spied this species for the first time last week in Weslaco, Texas, and then again today, here on Florida's upper east coast. It has turned out to be much smaller than I imagined, and more beautiful as well. I was pleased (dare I say giddy?) to see this lone Spoonbill getting along so well with its little cousins, the White Ibi.