Fighting Ibis in the Yard

 

Pair of Ibis
Tequesta, FL
August 27, 2026

So my connection to Florida goes back a long way! 53 years to be exact. That is when I entered the University of Miami as a freshman! It was a shock when a kid from nowhere Upstate NY got dropped off at a college he had never visited into a dorm room without air conditioning! 

That was the welcome I had to South Florida. Fortunately, I had a bike as my only means of transportation.

Sebastian

In those days the Hurricanes had a mascot known as the Sebastian the Fighting Ibis and that is why to this day I still smile whenever I see Ibis along a road or river. They remind me of my time at Miami.

Yes, I departed Miami during my Junior year and went to Syracuse to graduate. There was some discussion that my class time was interfering with my beach time. There was a small lagoon with a nice beach a short 15 minute bike ride from the campus. My friends and I spent many great afternoons at the beach there. Too many afternoons I guess in retrospect. 

I saw the Ibis during my bike ride yesterday. I enjoyed being out yesterday after the storms during the night. There is a rain cloud sitting over us this morning which is diminishing the chances that I will be able to bike today. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL