Eastern glossy ibis nesting in southeastern Maryland

On June 25, 1956, Don P. Fankhauser and I investigated a large heron colony of mixed species, on Mills Island in Chincoteague Bay, Worcester County, Maryland. Large numbers of American Egrets (Casmerodius albus), Snowy Egrets (Leucophoyx thula), Louisiana Herons (Hydranassa tricolor), Little Blue Herons (Florida caerulea), and Black-crowned Night Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) were found, all nesting in a dense grove of young red cedar (Juniperus virginiana). Much to our surprise, the colony also included at least two pairs of the Eastern Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus). Four adults of this species were repeatedly observed flying low overhead and frequently perching in nearby tree-tops. In addition, two young ibis, about three-fourths grown, were found. These two birds, still unable to fly, would hop and flutter among the tree branches whenever they were approached too closely. The large white crown patch and the peculiar barred markings of the bill were especially noticeable on both of the young.