Australian White Ibis
This Ibis was wandering around in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens when I happened across him and took some photos. It was somewhere around 4pm so the light was coming in at an angle and not quite as fierce. This is probably the sharpest shot from this afternoon's walk.
Common Names: Australian White Ibis, Sacred Ibis
Scientific Name: Threskiornis molucca
Length: 75cm
Habitat: Eastern half and Coastal South-west mainland of Australia, also the Moluccas and New Guinea. Commonly found in grasslands, wetlands and parks.
View all photos taken: Wednesday, 1st November 2006, This photo: 3:59pm
Great bird - If I were to see one of these it would be in a zoo, they do not come to Sweden!
Funny to comment on photos from the other side of the world!
It is an amasing photo - it so clear and sharp!
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
We don't get anything like this in Germany either. Lovely shot, David !
Thanks Ulla (and you too David!). I always thought these guys were imports from somewhere like Egypt, but apparently this variety are native. We didn't have them in Brisbane until just less than 10 years ago, presumably as the drought worsened out west they migrated further east. They're a bit of a pest now, like pigeons, but a LOT bigger.
its seen you and its off !!
Could be Helen, this was about the 3rd or 4th shot I'd taken of him, so he'd probably had enough, mind you, so had I as I wandered off after this shot too.
that beak looks hefty! :)
great capture, David!
I'm told they get quite annoyed if you grab their beak (no, I haven't done so, but I know someone that has).
Lol !! well you would get annoyed if someone grabbed your beak !!!
Well especially if I had a honker like that Ibis!
David, i think I'll get annoyed if an Ibis grabs my nose :-D
I reckon that'd be fair enough too Maria!
Very nice! We don't get these in Canada either : )
My first look at this bird! Nice capture.
thanks for stopping by my photos!
I'm mildly surprised by the interest in this bird, they're so common around here that I tend to take them for granted.
Really nice shot. We have them everywhere in Sydney. I find them fascinating to watch. They get into everything. One of natures great survivors
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Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)
They've gained the reputation of "rats of the sky" up here, at one stage the council even brought in a wedgetail eagle to try to scare them off (it worked, they all disappeared out of the CBD for a while, but since the eagle was returned to whence it came, the Ibis have slowly started coming back).
Nice capture David.
Question:Why do all the white Ibises and Flying foxes fly out to sea in the evening at Cairns?
Really impressive.
Thanks Ian.
As for the Cairns question, no idea I'm afraid. The furthest north up the coast I've been is Mackay. If Rainforest Harley drops by, he may be able to shed some light on that quandary.
Thanks David.
Another interesting looking bird, David.
Makes me wonder how do they manage to eat with their long, slender and curved beaks.
I presume they have really long slender tongues Margot. I know they use their long beak to dig around in soft dirt, mangroves, etc for food. I've seen one with a small fish once, it was carrying it away to eat somewhere else so I'm none the wiser about exactly how they eat.