Feathery picnic in the park

Lafreniere Park -- the old Jefferson Downs race track reconverted to a outdoor wonderland -- is the scene for these two American white ibises (ibi?). The hot weather was no problem for them. They were shore-line fishing for bugs and minnows and the like. The 155-acre park features soccer fields, Frisbee golf, and of course, the man-made swampy nature habitat for birds, nutria, alligators, rabbits and more.

By the way, Jefferson Downs met its end in the last major storm to hit New Orleans before Katrina -- Betsy in 1965. Now this is the largest park in Metairie, the next door neighbor to New Orleans.

You'll probably have to double click on the image to enlarge it to be able to see this -- the ibis has its nostrils up by the foot of its beak. That is so it can breath even when it's feeling around underwater or poking holes in the ground for food.

--steve buser