Ring Around the Rosiette Spoonbill

[Eric Gofreed]

With each rhythmic sweep of her broad, spoon-shaped bill, the Rosiette Spoonbill stirs the muddy shallows, sensing prey by touch alone. Occasionally, she flings her bill upward, perhaps to reposition prey or flush something hidden, but this time, she comes up empty. Around her, wide ripples spiral outward in perfect rings, echoing her slow-motion dance across the water.

Watching her, I’m reminded of an old nursery rhyme: Ring around the rosy, pocket full of posies. Many believe this rhyme dates back to times of plague or smallpox. The “rosy” refers to the red rash that was one of the first signs of illness. The “ring” was the circular shape the rash often made. A pocket full of posies meant people carried flowers or herbs in hopes of warding off disease or at least masking the smell. And “we all fall down” was a quiet nod to the many who died.

Here, in gentler times, it’s rings around the Rosette—not of sickness, but of searching. Her dance through the shallows leaves circles not of sorrow, but of instinct, grace, and survival. (“Rosiette” is a poetic play on “Roseate” and “Rosie”—a nod to both the bird and the rhyme.)

 

[AlanLichty]

Nice shot and an interesting narrative around your chosen thread title. I have read about the theoretical origins of the nursery rhyme and believe it might be an accurate description of smallpox in its day. It seems an appropriate description of the image you present here minus the references to the viral outbreak of course. The orientation of the bird's markings and the ripples on the water are almost a perfect fit. Nice capture.

 

[JimFox]

Great timing with this really cool looking bird! I never thought about the poem in those terms, how interesting, and it does seem to fit the darker origins. Who knew? As today it's a fun little ditty that kids sing and play to.

 

[Beth]

beautiful rosate spoonbill! love the ripples in the water circling around the bird.