English and Scientific names:	Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria)
Number of individuals:	1 individual, adult plumage
Locality: LOUISIANA:	Iberville Parish
Specific Locality:	Sherburne WMA, North Farm
Date(s) when observed:	31 July 2008
Time(s) of day when observed:	8am
Reporting observer and address:	Joshua T. Sylvest Baton Rouge, LA
Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):	Michael Seymour
Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):
Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):	The bird was spotted to the west of us and in 8am sunlight from the east; excellent light conditions
Optical equipment:	Leica Binoculars, 10x42, excellent condition
Distance to bird(s):	Initially viewed from roughly 200 yards and we were able to creep to within ca. 80 yards
Duration of observation:	45 minutes
Habitat:	Flooded Ag Lands/Crawfish Pond -type impoundment
Behavior of bird:	Initially observed feeding, walking and stalking slowly, deliberately picking prey items. Also observed in flight for 3 minutes or less when it flew off to the south and disappeared over the tree line
Description:	Huge white body, long, dark legs, broad red skin separating white body from black, featherless head and neck. Few white downy-type feathers were apparent on the nape of the otherwise featherless head and neck. The bill was very large (nearly the length and girth of the entire neck) and black. The bird was viewed directly next to some of our largest wading birds including Wood Storks, Great Blue Herons, and Great Egrets and towered over them all, appearing almost twice as bulky as well.
Voice:	None
Similar species:	Only other bird it might resemble would be Wood Stork. Wood Stork much smaller, bill smaller, no red skin on neck. Jabiru also showed entirely white remiges in flight.
Photographs or tape recordings obtained?	Photographs by Joshua Sylvest and Michael Seymour (previously submitted by Michael Seymour
Previous experience with this species:	None (books only)
Identification aids:	None
This description is written from:	Memory
Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain:	Yes. While origin may be a concern, this bird showed no leg band of any kind and is apparently not commonly kept in zoos and therefore not a likely candidate for an escapee.
Reporter:	Joshua T. Sylvest
Date and time:	7 Aug 2008 6pm