White Ibises in Riverside Park

The prolonged cold weather has driven well over a thousand White Ibis to take refuge on the island in Jacksonville's Riverside Park. By 6pm each night they are covering the island so that almost no land shows. The birds begin flying in about 5pm in big V formations and make spectacular maneuvers to land on the ground and in the trees. Last night, Dr. Wayne Wood noticed from his windows that the birds just kept coming and coming, so he went to the park and made the video above.

Normally, a couple of dozen White Ibis always stay on the park's island at night during the cold weather months, but this year the numbers are amazing. It it reminiscent of the Chimney Swifts from a few months back.