Page 80 - Present Day Wildlife_Float

The Ibis is a long-legged wading bird, of which there are 29 extant species in 13 genera* in the
family Threskiornithidae. They are present in most warm regions around the world with the excep-
tion of some South Pacific islands. The Ibis come in all sizes, an average however, can be said to be
around 58 to 69 cm tall. There is of course the
giant ibis coming in at around 102 to 106 cm tall
and the small dwarf Ibis which has a body length
of around 52 mm. The Ibises are an ancient spe-
cies with fossil records going back 60 million
years

In general all Ibises have long downward
curved beaks, spindly legs and thin four toed
splayed feet. Their downward curved beaks are
ideal for probing the mud for all types of crusta-
ceans and their long legs for wading in various
depths of water or marshlands. Due to their glob-
al distribution the habitats of the Ibis can vary
quite dramatically. Most are freshwater birds
preferring open areas like natural marshes,
ponds, lakes, and riversides, while others like
the Andean ibis prefer high altitude grassland
areas and the Olive and Green ibis, dense forest
areas. The Ibis are not solitary birds and will
*Ibis Genera gather together in small and large groups in their
chosen lakes or ponds often sharing with other
Genus Threskiornis Genus Theristicus bird species. They are also monogamous nesting
African sacred ibis, Plumbeous ibis, birds, and most build their nests in trees. Some
Malagasy sacred ibis, Buff-necked ibis, exceptions are the hermit ibis who builds its nest
Australian white ibis, Black-faced ibis, on Cliffside’s and the sacred ibis who builds it’s
on the ground. At mating time, most nesting
Straw-necked ibis, Andean ibis, pairs become solitary and territorial, living apart
Réunion ibis, (extinct) Genus Mesembrinibis from the group. However, White ibises prefer to
Black-headed ibis, Green ibis, nest in groups of 2 or 3, while the sacred ibis will
Genus Pseudibis Genus Phimosus happily live in a colony of thousands of nests
Red-naped ibis, Bare-faced ibis The Ibis is a very successful species; a suc-
White-shouldered ibis, Genus Eudocimus cess that can be attributed to its diverse diet. Alt-
Giant ibis, American white ibis, hough, primarily carnivores, living on worms,
Genus Geronticus Scarlet ibis, spiders, small fish, crustaceans and beetles, they
Northern bald ibis, Genus Plegadis will eat almost anything they can find, which in-
Southern bald ibis, Glossy ibis, cludes plants, seeds and fruits. Some however,
seem to have a particular preference, possibly
Genus Nipponia White-faced ibis, due to the environment they inhabit. For in-
Crested ibis, Puna ibis, stance, the straw-necked ibis, found only along
Genus Bostrychia Genus Lophotibis the coastlines of Australia seems to prefer hunt-
Olive ibis, Madagascar ibis, ing grasshoppers, rather than wading in the salty
coastal waters, while the hermit ibis living in the
São Tomé ibis, Genus Apteribis dry regions of Africa and the Middle East hunts
Spot-breasted ibis, A. glenos small animals. In many countries, farmers see
Hadada ibis, A. brevis the large flocks of ibis as a benefit, as they help
Wattled ibis, control the insect population safeguarding crops

Genus Cercibis against disease. Although itself a predator, the
Sharp-tailed ibis, ibis is also preyed on by monkeys, crows, snakes,
and iguanas. Other threats to it are man’s en-
Genus Mesembrinibis croachment into its natural habitats, like the
Green ibis, draining of marshland, pesticide use and the
Genus Mesembrinibis felling of forests where they nest.
Green ibis,