24”x 36” original acrylic on canvas
The other Pink bird
It was time. I knew that I had to include a shock-o-pink bird in this collection of paintings and the Roseate Spoonbill made the cut.
Some months ago we took a homeschool trip down through the bayou to see our local ecosystem up close. It was beautiful. Besides the fact that we had a Cajun named Boudreaux navigating our pontoon through the Tupelos, it was late April and the spoonbills were nesting in the nearby treetops.
As a bright pink bird flew over our boat, Boudreaux excitedly asked if anybody in the group knew what kind of birds those were. Fittingly, one of our eight-year-old girls called out “Roseate Spoonbill!” which was accurate. And fabulous.
This unique beauty is in full display, showing off all its noble plumage. I love that this is not a fictitious bird, as it very well should be. I think that’s the real reason that I love it.
As glorious as a flamingo is— the lesser-known pink bird needed a proprietary moment in the spotlight. Here is its quiet moment to shine: a salute to the Roseate Spoonbill.
©2021 Alexis Castillo
