When Mary Goldsmith stepped into her yard in Port Aransas, Texas, she noticed something unusual drifting down from the sky — a large pink feather, spinning lazily through the air before landing at her feet.
She bent to pick it up, puzzled. What kind of bird could possibly be bright pink?
Curious, Goldsmith rushed inside to investigate. Her search led her to a name she’d never heard before — the roseate spoonbill.
“I was in awe the first time I saw one in person,” Goldsmith told The Dodo. “Not only is it large and pink, but it has this green, spoon-shaped bill that it swings back and forth in the water to trap food. It’s such an unusual, beautiful bird.”
Since that day, Goldsmith has spotted plenty of spoonbills — fitting, since they’re actually the official bird of Port Aransas. But just when she thought she’d seen it all, one bird took her breath away all over again.
While visiting the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, she came across a spoonbill that looked like it had been painted by the sunset itself.
“This particular bird was one of the most vibrant I have ever seen,” she said. “During breeding season, their feathers deepen into a hot pink with flashes of orange and yellow. This one was on fire with color.”
Goldsmith lifted her camera — and that’s when she realized the bird was watching her, too.
“It stood right in front of me, going through different poses and seeming to respond to the click of the camera,” she said.
The spoonbill seemed to know exactly how stunning he was, striking pose after pose like a runway model showing off his feathers. Goldsmith couldn’t stop laughing — and snapping photos.
Even after seeing countless spoonbills over the years, this one felt special — like a reminder of the magic she’d discovered that very first day when a single pink feather floated into her life.
You can see more of Mary Goldsmith’s photography here.
