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As a loyal Florida Gators football fan, I always root for the Gators and anyone playing against Florida State. It’s never easy watching your favorite team on a losing trajectory, especially after living through their glory years, including National Championships in 1996, 2006 and 2008. So when in 2025 University of Miami defeated Florida State football team, I rooted for the Miami Hurricanes. When Miami found itself in the 2026 National Championship, I was leaning toward Miami, but open to Indiana whose quarterback Mendoza has deep Miami family ties, and is a very good guy. It was a good game, ending with Indiana winning after intercepting a Miami pass, stopping a Miami scoring drive. Not particularly fond of the Hurricanes quarterback, I figured the good guys won.  The scarlet ibis has a long, curved bill which it uses to probe in the mud for insects, crustacean, frogs and fishes. The Miami Hurricanes mascot is the White Ibis named Sebastian. Though Sebastian looks a bit like a duck, an ibis is a way better mascot than a “hurricane.” What kind of dance would a hurricane do? Would it run around and expel wind? The mascot was chosen by the student body in 1926. According to legend, the ibis exhibits bravery (or stupidity) as it is the last bird to depart the area in advance of a hurricane. As the storm passes the ibis is the first to reappear, exhibiting resilience. The ibis is often called the hurricane bird, or the storm bird, as they keep an eye on the weather. They are an unofficial storm warning system, especially when you see a lot of them flocked together.  Wading in shallow water, in search of marine worms and other aquatic creatures. The White ibis (Eudocimus albus) is the most numerous wading bird in South Florida and in the Everglades. It is found from the southern half of the US East Coast (Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia), along the Gulf Coast states (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas) and south through most of the Caribbean coastal regions of Central America. Their breeding range runs along the Gulf and Atlantic Coast, and the coasts of Mexico and Central America. The White ibis doesn’t mind being in urban settings. It is becoming more of a suburban bird, and can be found almost everywhere the Florida Keys, Homestead, Redlands, Naples, road margins, artificial ponds, downtown Miami, and, yes, at the University of Miami campus where they congregated long before there was population in Miami to attend one.  Juvenile and mature ibis. The ibises call sounds like a foghorn… nothing pretty about it. They croak and quack, like a duck with nasal congestion. They walk in shallow pools, slowly with their heads down, sweeping their bill from side to side, looking for crabs, crustaceans, marine worms, frogs, fish and other wetland creatures. They traverse backyards and road shoulders, probing as they go, capturing by touch worms and insects found in the ground cover. Thousands nest annually on a small island at Crandon Park near Key Biscayne. In the morning and evening you can see them flying overhead, heading to and from their feeding grounds in yards and parks. Within eye and earshot of a bustling populated Miami, these ibis are a testament to adaptiveness.  Reflection of a juvenile while ibis. Adult White ibis are easy to recognize by their bright white feathers, pinkish-red bill, and curved posture. Immature White ibis are brown with a white belly. There is another ibis who is cousin to the White ibis called the Scarlet ibis. The Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) looks exactly like the White except is is bright red, and is the only shorebird with red coloration in the world. It is the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago. It is numerous in Central and South America, and the Caribbean.  Ibis are social birds, traveling in groups. They are spooked by my presence and the camera. The Scarlet ibis is red because they eat of lot of red crustaceans. I photographed the Scarlet ibis at the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida. The aviary there is 20 foot tall and 4,000 square foot, and visitors walk among the birds as they wade in ponds, and roost in trees within the enclosure. Natural threats to the ibis include jaguars (haven’t seen to many of them lately…unless you are referring to the vehicle) and birds of prey. A greater threat is due to population growth and loss of habitat, though they are adapting. Or if you are a Miami fan, the White ibis was overpowered by the “red” of Indiana. Go Gators. I actually think my Florida Gators can jump out of the water and chomp on the ibis… but that is for another year.  A flock of mature white ibis.
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There's a bird that is everywhere, but is generally under appreciated... it's the seagull. This group of 47 species is one of the most recognizable, despite there being no such species as a “seagull”. These members of the gull and tern family are common near coastal beaches and waterways. If you mention “seagull” to a Keys resident who likes to fish, they’ll tell you if you see a line of seaweed, with flocks of seagulls flying over it, chances are there will be mahi or tuna nearby.  Close-up of a “Laughing Gull”, a year-round resident of South Florida. My photos of the Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) were taken from the stern of a sightseeing boat, while touring the wooden stilt houses of Stiltsville in Miami about a mile and a half offshore Key Biscayne. These birds are named for their calls that sound like a laugh. Gulls are opportune feeders, adept at fishing and scavenging. The passengers were throwing saltines into the air, to the gulls in our wake. These superb flyers managed to catch the cracker before it (or the bird) hit the water. Key Biscayne is connected to Miami by a causeway called Rickenbacker Causeway, named after Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, the legendary WWI flying ace, Commander of the 94th Aero Squadron and innovative fighter pilot who devised new ways for how American pilots engaged the enemy. The nation cherished Capt. Rickenbacker, and he was a true American hero. After the war he started a car company, founded Florida Airways, purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from Carl Fisher, and founded a comic strip called Ace Drummond. Eddie’s nickname after World War I was the ‘Ace of Aces’. But all those accomplishments pale in the eyes of Capt. Rickenbacker who was grateful for a seagull that saved his life and the lives of 6 other men who survived 21 days adrift at sea.  January 1935: Capt. Rickenbacker assisting Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, after completing her first extended flight aboard Eastern Airlines. He revolutionized air travel. In October 1942, Eddie boarded a B-17 Bomber in Hawaii headed to see General Douglas MacArthur. Capt. Rickenbacker was a passenger and envoy on this secret military mission, when the plane had a navigation malfunction, got lost, ran out of fuel, and ditched in a remote part of the Central Pacific Ocean. The crew was adrift aboard three rubber life rafts; food and water ran out after three days. On the eighth day of being lost, Rickenbacker fell asleep only to be awakened by the feel of a seagull that had landed on his head. He reached up, grabbed the bird’s feet, wrung it’s neck and it became dinner for the men. The intestines were used for bait and by using the bones as hooks, they were able to fish and survive for 13 more days. After 21 days and 400-500 miles floundering at sea the men were rescued. Capt. Rickenbacker had lost 40 pounds and was too weak to stand when he was lifted aboard the rescue plane.  Gulls are opportune feeders, adept at fishing and scavenging, even catching saltines in mid-air  He recovered and went on to achieve personal and financial success. But despite all his accomplishments, and the accolades of a nation, Rickenbacker never forgot that incident, and chose to be grateful for that one bird… a seagull… who gave hope both physically and spiritually to the survivors.. For the remainder of his life (he lived till age 82), part of “Old Ed’s” routine every Friday evening about sunset was to go to a South Florida pier with a bucket of shrimp to slowly and methodically feed the seagulls. He’d reflect on events of that fateful day a half decade earlier, and express gratitude to the bird who gave of itself without a struggle. He’d walk to the end of the pier alone, but soon would be surrounded by dozens of seagulls, screeching and squawking, flapping and fluttering and in a few short minutes the bucket was empty.  These superb flyers managed to catch the cracker before it (or the bird) hit the water. As the sun goes down, the old man whispers “thank you - thank you” to the gulls, as he lingers in thought, transported to another time and place, then turns and slowly walks home. To the unknowing, his actions would appear strange or unusual. You never know about the quiet old souls, and the great things they have done during their lifetime. Miami was grateful for Capt. Rickenbacker. In 1935, Eastern Airlines was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade. Eastern Airlines was the first airline to operate without a subsidy from the Federal government. Rickenbacker revolutionized air travel.  The Rickenbacker Causeway, opened in 1947, made possible public access to Key Biscayne and Crandon Park, expanding Miami-Dade’s parks and recreation opportunities. On Nov. 9, 1947 the Miami Commission dedicated “Rickenbacker Causeway,” the road connecting Miami with Key Biscayne. Rickenbacker’s good friend and commissioner Charlie Crandon was instrumental in the acquisition and expansion of parks throughout Miami-Dade, including his namesake park (Crandon Park), and the new causeway made public access possible. Rickenbacker would feed the Laughing gulls on Key Biscayne Beach until his death in 1973. Guess he had the last laugh when his prayers were answered in 1942 when the seagull saved his life.  My photos of the Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) were taken from the stern of sightseeing boat, while touring the wooden stilt houses of Stiltsville in Miami about a mile and a half offshore Key Biscayne. The Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a year-round resident in the Florida Keys. It is one of the most familiar birds, even to those who struggle to identify bird species. Even if you say, look at the “red bird” you are partially right, as the Northern cardinal is commonly known as red cardinal, common cardinal or simply cardinal. In the year 1883 there was a community in North Key Largo called “Red Bird City,” named after the colorful birds. Though it cannot be found on any maps, it was a few miles up CR-905 from the intersection of US-1 near the current Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park. The Pinder and Russell families had more than 300 acres there, and earned their living by farming and fishing, and by the vocation of catching and selling cardinals. They would capture the red birds, send them by boat to Key West, where there would be shipped to Cuba, where songbirds were in demand as caged pets.  A bright red cardinal provides striking contrast from its vibrant green perch. Historically, cardinals ranged from the Gulf to New York, southern Ontario and Iowa. Partly due to the proliferation of bird feeders, their range has shifted north to Maine, to Minnesota and southwest to Texas, New Mexico, southern Arizona, southern California and south through Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. Red cardinals are here year round, but it is their nature to be elusive at times. Unlike the mockingbird and the blue jays who will let you pass within yards of them, the cardinal always has a watchful eye out for intruders, and flits away when approached.  Cardinals prefer early morning and late evening. Place food on a seed table near the cover of shrubbery in your backyard.  The male cardinal is unmistakable for its bright red feathers and pointed crest on its head.  A female cardinal makes short work of a black sunflower seed with its strong, thick beak which is perfect for large seeds. European settlers arriving in our country were reminded of the Roman Catholic bishops by the bird’s crest, resembling the bishops headgear and red color resembling the red vestments of the church. The unmistakable bright red plumage of the male cardinal is from their food. They eat seeds and grains, but they also eat insects and a variety of fruits. The female is duller, but also has a crest, and a pink bill.  When cardinals appear to you, it usually means nothing but goodness for you and your beloved, with their lifelong partnership suggesting a strong, unwavering bond. Their coloration is not all that makes a cardinal a spiritual reference. These birds have often symbolized heavenly visitors, or even a sign from a deceased loved one. A friend of mine received a large sack of sunflower seeds from a friend in memory of her husband's passing. She thought it unusual since she doesn’t feed the birds. Perhaps her friend should have included a note with the gift containing the cardinal's favorite food explaining her symbolic intent: the appearance of a cardinal is meant to show us that we are not alone. There is the rhyme “Cardinals appear when Angels are near.” The Cardinal’s Call When the cardinal sings its song I fee a tug at my heart A reminder of the love we shared Even though we are apart Its red feathers like a beacon Guiding me through the night A sign that you are with me still In spirit and in light Anonymous  Cardinals are private birds that favor dense tangles. Cardinals are private birds that prefer thick foliage with lots of trees and shrubs. In Spring and Summer they are extra protective of their nests, especially against intruders and other males. The blue jay is a major predator of cardinal chicks and eggs, as are squirrels, hawks, crows, owls, snakes, iguana and domestic cats. A word of caution: If you have bird feeders or spread seeds, avoid scattering near low shrubs and anywhere else that predators may hide and attack from. If you have pets that go outdoors, keep them away from cardinal nesting and feeding grounds. Both male and female cardinals tend to the chicks in the nest, and pairs of cardinals form life-long bonds and remain together for consecutive breeding seasons. Cardinals are a symbol of devotion and loyalty.  Late summer, a male cardinal missing feathers during molting. On a recent photo assignment I was to capture the moment when a man proposed marriage to the love of his life. Awkward at best is how I describe my role as paparazzi. So as I await hiding in plain sight with my camera and long lens, I notice a red cardinal on a branch above the path leading to the beach where he would propose. Moments later the couple walked down that same path. What a positive sign, especially for a couple embarking on a lifelong partnership. She said yes! I love happy beginnings!
When it rains the birds remain hunkered under cover in dense brush, but as soon as it clears they out in search of food. At the first sign of good weather I put sunflower seeds on the seed table and soon the hungry cardinals reappear. The return of the cardinal is a sign for new beginnings… and I’ll embrace that thought every time. |
CAROL ELLIS
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