English and Scientific names:	jabiru
Number of individuals:	1 bird unsure of sex or age..plumage is white
Locality: LOUISIANA:	st mary parish
Specific Locality:	charenton on ralph darden blvd.
Date(s) when observed:	july 27th 2008
Time(s) of day when observed:	right before sunset
Reporting observer and address:	bill stelly jr charenton,la
Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):	n/a
Other observers who independently identified the bird(s)	father bill stelly sr.
Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):	bird was in open field no shading...but walked among tree line..plenty of light
Optical equipment:	nikon coolpix p80, brand new...10.1 mp 18x zoom 4.7-84.2mm
Distance to bird(s):	approx. 30-40 yards
Duration of observation:	maybe 20 minutes
Habitat:	cane field
Behavior of bird:	bird was real alert and cautious before landing where i can take pics it made several short flights but landed and i got closer.
Description:	tall white bodied bird..with red ring at base of neck and black neck and head....long black beak that looked like it was smiling..with a yellowish mow hawk type strip going down the back of head. what stood out to me was it was among egrets in the area and it towered them.
Voice:	didnt hear any sounds
Similar species:	yes i have several photographs of this bird. taken by me. some pics attached
Photographs or tape recordings obtained?	no previous experience..i am not a bird watcher..but an outdoorsman and i have never seen a bird like this before
Previous experience with this species:
Identification aids:	i came home got on pc and went to what bird .com and found the bird i had just taken pics of
This description is written from:	memory
Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain:	yes 100%
Reporter:	bill stelly jr
Date and time:	august 7th 6:33 pm