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| Florida's Educational Technology Clearinghouse |
Do you have a regular visitor to your yard, some exotic or delightful creature that makes you smile and whom you eventually regard as your very own mascot? Mine is the ibis, a bird about two feet high that almost always comes in flocks.
Ibises are wading birds who ordinarily feed on crustaceans, but because there are no crustaceans in my yard, I suppose that they have a varied diet. Remember the funny toy bird from decades ago that was made of plastic and sponges? The toy bird plunged his head into a glass of water and then would, through some simple law of physics, eventually become upright again. Well, the ibis makes the same movement, albeit at a more rapid pace. A flock of ibises will land in my lawn and then, with great thoroughness, move across it like a well-practiced and synchronized dowsing team. They have orange bills that tend to be dirty for the first six inches. I think they're drilling for grubs, and the sight is comical and endearing.
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| Photo by Alice Ruffner |
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| Photo by Alice Ruffner |
One distinctive feature of the ibis is that it has very blue eyes!
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| Egyptomania | National Gallery of Canada | Humbert, Pantazzi, Ziegler |
Here I've recreated a hieroglyphic of the ibis god. Known as Tehuti by the Egyptians and named Thoth by the Greeks, he was the counterpart of the Greek's Hermes and the Roman's Mercury. Thoth was usually depicted with a palette and sometimes was crowned with a moon (like Diana). He was lord of the moon, the god of wisdom, writing and invention, and was the messenger and spokesman of the gods. He was also the protector of scribes.
So while I chuckle when I see my ibis friends, this blogger is also honored when they choose my yard for their sustenance!
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I kind of like Ibis'. I guess my dislike for them is that they have overtaken some parks and gardens in Sydney and have been reduced to scavenging out of garbage bins and making the most awful mess. They are more the black headed variety as in the last painting.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I would agree that garbage-scavenging animals are less enchanting!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting Mark! I have nothing so exotic where I live.....
ReplyDeleteI am a sucker for blue eyed boys though ;)
Hey Mark... your blog-o-sphere is really cool. I'll bet you're a real mr. tidy-paws!
ReplyDeleteThis last comment is from a former coworker of mine who remembers that I was such a neatnik at work that I received the "Mr. Tidy Paws Award." In fact, though this commenter remains anonymous, I have a good idea just who it might be, and I'm glad to hear from you!
ReplyDeleteTheresa, this is also the land of fire ants (I read your comment at Gina's), and they're in my yard as well!
ReplyDeleteI would love to have an ibis visit me here in Normandy - we have nothing so exotic, although there are alot of herons in the valley, they visit the gardens with ponds and steal the fish!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend
Sharon
I don't know much about ibises, but remember them mentioned in a favourite Oscar Wilde short story. I didn't know they have fantastic blue eyes! They look so beautifully exotic, I don't think I could ever consider them as a pest. We have the somewhat bothersome Canada Geese here in Ontario; they have taken over many parks, but I don't mind at all.
ReplyDeleteI love birds of all sorts. It is tragic that the Carolina Parakeet, the once indigenous and very beautiful parrot that once covered most of Florida, and is now extinct.
Your re-created hieroglyph is super. Bold and modern, yet still very ancient looking. I like the textured background and your fragmented signature. Cool!
I have a beautiful pet parrot, and cannot imagine life without birds in the wild, in the garden, and as pets. Glad to know that you also appreciate nature as our wired lifestyle draws us further and further from these amazing creatures.
Our fine, feathered friends....
what a treat and what a joy, crows and crows are all get, I wonder, what is the difference between an egret and an ibis? Mark, your post are always so wonderful, thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks Terry and Kevin!
ReplyDeleteKevin, egrets are taller and sleeker than ibises and have longer plumage and straighter beaks. While the ibis plods along, constantly ducking his head for food, the egret catches his prey by moving very slowly, then standing still. He then catches his prey with a quick darting movement.
Love your Ibis and finally got the connection - protector of scribes. Stylish and appropriate choice!!
ReplyDeleteYes, we are the new scribes, aren't we?
ReplyDeletenothing so exotic- for NC. of course wouldn't we appreciate the only Ibis here. it is all relative to our locations. The turtle-which I have written about on occasion makes me quite smile-have them about the house in in some jewelry-nothing valuable but charming. pgt
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed a turtle in my yard this past year, and he had a beautiful yellow pattern on his shell. I wish he'd stayed longer, but maybe he didn't appreciate competition from the ibises.
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