Whitewater Draw White Faced Ibis

Another "find" at Whitewater Draw is the White Faced Ibis. An awkward looking bird -- something from a Count Dracula film, maybe. They are about the size of a snowy egret. Males and females have identical plumage. They nest in low lying trees like other wading birds. Being named "white faced ibis" is somewhat misleading. The adult, when breeding has a white border around its eye. So much for the "white face." But also when breeding, its plumage turns to an iridescent burgundy color best seen when flying. The white faced ibis spends its summers in northern California, Nevada, and Utah; wintering in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Northern Mexico. I have usually found them in numbers of 5 to 50, always where water is present. This can include farm lands that have been turned and watered recently. This often makes finding insects -- their main diet -- easier.