[mou] Glossy Ibis update

[Bill Unzen]

I arrived at the reported location at about 2:30pm and found the group
of 23 ibises in section 6 of Hamlin Twp. and the first one I scoped
was the Glossy. After only about ten minutes of observation the ibises
took flight and flew 1 mile northwest and landed in another flooded
area along the same creek (section 31, Madison Twp.). There they were
observed in increasing good light on the west side of the road until
6pm. Just after 6pm a Peregrine and Harrier caused the ibises to
flush. The ibises again flew northwest along the same creek and Dennis
and Barb Martin and I watched the flock descend into the marsh about
3/4 mile farther up the creek (section 25, Arena Twp.). The spot they
landed is inaccessible and the ibises could not be seen from any
surrounding road. There is a lot of prime ibis habitat here so the
birds could stay in the general area for a few days.


The irides of the Glossy Ibis were very dark brown. The facial skin
was dark gray with a thin bluish-white border on the edge of the
facial skin. The blue tinge to these borders was always evident even
in times of poor light. The border did not extend behind the eye or
under the chin. The feathers around the face were black, in the
White-faced Ibises the chestnut color of the neck extended right to
the white border. The legs were gray and darkest gray at the
intertarsal joint and had a slight tan tinge at their very base.

The color of the neck, back and underparts was a darker,
more-maroonish color then the chestnut plumage of the adult
White-faced Ibises. The iridescence of the wings was more purple and
the White-faceds more green.

The Glossy was noticeably the largest ibis. Only two of the
White-faceds approached matching it in size and when on even ground
together the Glossy appeared 20-25 percent taller and larger then all
but those two large White-faced Ibises. Even at a distance given its
larger size and darker overall color it was easy to spot in the flock
time after time.


The other 22 ibises could all be identified as White-faced Ibis. 20
birds were easily identifiable as adult birds with blood-red irides,
pink to red facial skin, all reddish legs and a thick white border of
feathers surrounding thier facial skin. The additional two birds
appeared younger and were probably first-spring individuals. One bird
was the same as the others except the white border around its red
facial skin was very faint. The other was the largest of the
White-faced Ibises and it lacked any white border but still had all
red irides and facial skin and pink legs.


Bill J. Unzen
Lac Qui Parle County.