Don Balke (North Carolina, B. 1933) "White-faced Ibis" Signed lower right. Original Watercolor on Illustration Board.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood commemorative cover for Balke's Shorebirds of the 50 States, cancelled December 28, 1986. Found along freshwater shores and swamps, the White-faced Ibis is very similar in nature to its Eastern cousin, the Glossy Ibis. Except during breeding when the White-faced Ibis acquires the facial plumes which give it its name, the two Ibises are visually indistinguishable. Like the Glossy Ibis, the White-faced feeds and nests in large colonies with herons, egrets and other Ibises. The White-faced Ibis prefers to feed in the muddy shallow bottomlands near its home. It uses its long sickle-shaped bill to seize its prey; its primary diet consists of small amphibians and freshwater crustaceans -- although it will sometimes feed on fish and earthworms. After satisfying its hunger, the White-faced Ibis returns to the noisy, crowded rookery and joins the rest of its flock. The Ibis' nests are built from dead reeds and twigs found along the shoreline, and are usually built on patches of floating vegetation. During breeding, the iridescent sheen of its body plumes contrasts with its dull white face. Both parents take an interest in incubating the four, pale blue-green eggs. They relieve one another with affectionate bill tapping and guttural cooing. In about three weeks the young appear covered with dull, blackish down, and by late summer they can fly and often wander from the breeding site. The use of pesticides is severely affecting the breeding of White-faced Ibises, and their numbers are steadily declining.

Image Size: 10.75 x 12.75 in.
Overall Size: 19.25 x 21 in.
Unframed. (B10657)

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