Scarlet Ibis

I just moved to central Florida and am trying to find out where to find the scarlet ibis that my bird book says is in a small patch here. I have photographed a lot of the birds here and really would love to find a scarlet. Any leads (other than zoos).
I found this wood stork at the fish cleaning station, I've never seen 1 before. Thanks, BJTHOM

Scarlet Ibis are tough. Any wild birds in Florida are most definitely escaped birds from zoos. I saw one in the wild on the west coast, north of Sanibel, about 20 years ago as a young child. There also was a hybrid Scarlet x White Ibis that used to roost at Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park in early 2005. Other than that, its pretty much pure chance. If you want to see a scarlet in the wild, you need to head to South America!

No need to head to South America.... There is a SPECTACULAR viewing of these birds in Trinidad. There is a protected forest area in the middle of the country (Don't recall the name of it...) You take a boat through the mangrove swamp into this open lake and get there right before sunset. Then a flock of thousands and thousands of Scarlet Ibises take off and fly back south to South America for the night. Really Awesome stuff!

- Luke

I just recanted this story to my boss who actually has been there too. It's called the Caroni Swamp.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroni_Swamp

Luke,

You are right. I couldn't remember how far north they get... I guess I just should have said South!

Drew

I've been there too, it's an awesome site for sure.

Luke - they don't commute back and forth to South America every day. They spend the days feeding in the mangroves and mud flats in Trinidad and the night roosting in Caroni Swamp. It is an amazing sight seeing them all fly into the swamp in the evening. I think there is some seasonal migration of birds between Trinidad and South America.

Ok, so my details are a bit fuzzy... but you guys get the idea! I just wish I had been into photography in those days...

Also note that Trinidad is getting more dangerous these days, our guide when we were in Tobago (island off Trinidad) came from Trinidad and he had stopped taking tours to Trinidad because he didn't think it was safe enough any more. I'm talking about the crime rate which results from corrupt government and poor people. Maybe in future it will get better again, we hope.

I saw a scarlet ibis in flight at Lakes Park in Fort Myers, years ago. Sightings of it at that time were occasionally reported in the newspaper. I've heard tell that a scarlet ibis has been seen at Lakes Park recently, but I can't confirm this.

Asa Wright Lodge, on the slopes of the north range of Trinidad, is the best place in the world for a birder to have a cup of coffee. And the Scarlet Ibis evening display in Caroni Swamp is one of the true wonders of the world. I have also heard that Trinidad is becoming more dangerous, but I think if you go with a group tour it's still okay. Every birder should see the Scarlet Ibises of Caroni at least once. And not just because of the rum punch that gets served...