Tuesday, May 1, 2012

New: The iBis 2.0 and Philandering Phalaropes

Until last week, the White-Faced Ibis were still shy, irregular birds in the Phoenix-area marshes. They stayed far away, were skittish, and their batteries ran out way too quickly, much like other Apple products.

Here's the older model: an amazing thing in itself, but not the finished product, not the final form.


With spring now getting off its fanny, Apple has introduced a new model. The iBis 2.0 seems to have replaced those timid, duller colored birds all around Phoenix now. Where there might have been two or three scrawny birds standing in the murk there are now dozens and dozens, with many more still flying overhead. They're shinier, they're hip, they combine the color and iridescence of songbirds with the ungainly and endearing frame of a wader. In short, these new iBis 2.0s are much more user friendly, and they've been great fun to observe.


It helps that there's been an algae bloom in lots of the recharge ponds around Phoenix too. These oft-desolate basins are now packed with color, even if it is an unearthly shade of green. Stare at this snapshot for too long and one might even feel like one's left earth altogether. If you do float off, not to worry, like other great Apple products, the iBis 2.0 has a nifty GPS.


The iBis are not the only birds sporting a new look and attitude. I was very lucky to see a Red-Necked Phalarope at the Glendale Recharge Ponds a few weeks ago, and now the same ponds are serving as a rendezvous point for little groups of Wilson's Phalarope.

Here's a pair of males enjoying some quality guy time as they chat about mustaches, engines, stock portfolios, etc.


Phalaropes are an interesting family of birds. They've taken the Sadie Hawkins Dance and turned it into a lifestyle with their typical gender roles reversed. The female Phalaropes are larger and more aggressive than the males. They also have much bolder plumage during the breeding season:



Just like at a Sadie Hawkins dance, the lady Phalaropes pursue and try to entice the males with their whimsical wicked wiles. Once they lay their clutch of eggs, the females depart and leave the males to incubate the eggs.

There were about two dozen Phalaropes at the Recharge Ponds on Sunday evening. This male arrived a little late to the mixer, perhaps due to his extensive application of rouge, but he soon integrated himself into the party.


It looked like they were having a charming little gala, but even Phalarope parties can get crashed, and in this case the crashers were some precocious Mallard chicks. It was kinda funny that the Mallard chicks were almost as big as the adult, breeding-plumage Phalaropes.

18 comments:

  1. I love your sense of humor Laurence, is it iHumorU 3.12 or a newer version?

    Wonderful images!

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    1. Thanks Mia. I'm afraid my iHumor is pretty out-of-date--haven't done any system upgrades for a while.

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  2. Wonderful shots!!! We had the same crew down here in Tucson. I always wonder if these same birds fly up to Phoenix after their several day stay here. It's really interesting. But clearly.....excellent shots!!!:) We had 5 Wilson's Phalaropes and about as many or more of the Ibis. The only excellent shot from it all? The Yellow Warbler. Go figure:)

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    1. Thanks Chris. I've wondered about that too, if they stop in Phoenix. I don't know how far some of these birds travel at a time, it doesn't seem farfetched at any rate. I'd love to get a good look and photo of a Yellow Warbler. It's one of those birds I really should have seen by now but, somehow, never have.

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    2. Sooooo....I went back to see if I could get a better shot of the Yellow or Wilson's Warbler but the sun was in my eyes....but surprisingly I did get the American Avocet and the White Faced Ibis....the warblers were all around me but never in my line of site which is why it is so frustrating for most birders to get a clear shot. The Ibis are really interesting birds.

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    3. iBis are nifty. I'd love to see that Yellow Warbler, but yes if there's a secret to getting good warbler shots it's not one I know at all.

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  3. Love the new look of the Ibis! It's looking good in its breeding colors! The Phalaropes are a great sighting as well!

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    1. Thanks Tammy. The birds are getting sexy in Arizona. The people are getting sunburnt and grouchy, but it's worth it!

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  4. I love the White-faced Ibis, one of my favorites! I look forward to them visiting our area in the Spring and Fall. Very nice images, and pic #3 with tilted head is sweeeeet :)

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    1. Thanks Cynthia. This is the first year I've really gotten to enjoy them. Their coloration is incredible, like a kaleidoscope. They're about as aline-looking as any bird can be, but still so endearing.

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  5. Love your perspective Laurence! When will Apple come out with the white-faced model? All I've seen have dull faces :-(

    Wow, we were thrilled just to see four Wilson's Phalaropes at GWR on Monday's monthly IBA count.

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    1. Those Wilson's are beautiful! My distant photos really don't do them justice; they're gorgeous birds.
      These iBis just upgraded to have the white face. It's been dull to this point for me too...so un-Apple. I'm glad they innovated.

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  6. Very nice post about iBis and iPhalaropes (oh, and of course Apple). Very clever and informative and some very shots shots!

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    1. Thanks Gordon. Hope to see ya in the field some time soon.

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  7. Cool. So my kids' colleges should have thrown a Phalarope dance while letting the kids figure out for themselves what that means.

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    1. Haha I can't speak to what colleges should be doing (educating better does come to mind though), but I can certainly say I would've appreciated it if my college had thrown a Phalarope party.

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  8. Damn, I didn't even know it was possible to see Wilson's Phalarope's that close! They can winter as far east as here, but it seems like they're always on the other side of a flooded field, and never as handsome as this. I do love watching them spin, though, however far away they are.

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    1. They're purdy birds. I haven't gotten close often, but as far as the birds at these recharge ponds go, the Wilson's P's are more tolerant than most.

      I'm always off-put by how small they are. I dunno why, but I always think of Phalaropes as being 11 inch birds. Wilson's are the biggest and they barely break 9 inches. It's weird how, like, nature doesn't conform to my impression of it.

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