Australian White Ibis

The Australian White Ibis is widespread in eastern, northern and southwestern Australia. It occurs in marshy wetlands, near open grasslands and in lakes such as our favourite stamping ground in Belair National Park, where we have a single pair at the moment.

The Australian White Ibis is a fairly large ibis species, being around 65-75 cm (25-30") long and has a bald black head and neck and that distinctive long black down-curved beak.

Historically this bird was rare in urban areas, and our BNP borders the urban areas of Belair and Mitcham. The urban population further increased after a further period of drought here in 1998.

In the recent past I have only ever seen these birds down at Goolwa and on the Coorong where it is near impossible to get as close as we were to this one today. Feeding them sure helped this Ibis to overcome some of his shy nature. OK we bribed him!

I was fortunate to catch this one landing as he came closer for food. The red skin is quite pronounced on the underside of the wing where there are no feathers. See even REDDER.

There has been debate in recent years over whether to consider them a pest or a possibly endangered species. Populations in some areas have been culled. The birds have also come to be regarded as a problem species in Victoria as a result of their scavenging activities, scattering rubbish from tips and bins in the process.

Such behaviour, together with their propensity to build nests in "inappropriate" places, and competition with captive animals, has led to their unpopularity in some circles.

I can assure you that this pair is very well behaved and as far as we know, never leave the lake in the park where they can be assured of a free feed from the public, apart from their own food gathering skills.