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Ibis

Laurie Conrad

Natural History

Ibis are of the order Ciconiiformes, although discussions about reclassifying the order to
Pelecaniformes have taken place. The Threskiornithidae family includes 28 species of ibis. All ibis
have long legs and down-curved bills used for probing for food items (Ryder and Manry 1994). Many
ibis species inhabit wetlands, marshes, and agricultural fields. They feed in large flocks and forage
on a variety of insects, fish, and amphibians found in the soil. They also visually locate food items
and pick them up from the surface of the water. Prey is swallowed whole after being tossed back into
their throat. Other ibis live in arid, wooded areas and grasslands. The terrestrial ibis diet consists
mainly of insects and other invertebrates, and small mammals and reptiles (Birdlife International
2016). Many ibis frequent grasslands and fields, but also live near inlets in many parts of the world
Population threats for the various ibis species vary. While some species have stable wild popula-
tions, others are listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN). The Association for Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) supports several species of ibis classified
as endangered or critically endangered, including Cape and Madagascar Crested Ibis that face seri-
ous threats to their habitats and populations. The experience gained from husbandry of species
held in zoological institutions can be transferred to conservation work with similar species with
endangered status and sick or injured rescued birds from wild populations.

­ Criteria­for Intervention

Egg abandonment, nest disturbance, injury or illness, population management, or habitat disrup-
tion may necessitate artificial incubation or hand-rearing. New and Old-World ibis respond simi-
larly to egg incubation, chick rearing diets, and housing guidelines. When hand-reared, chicks are
fed formula, transitioned to solids, and weaned at 3–4 weeks of age.

­ Record­Keeping

Mark eggs with a number using a nontoxic Sharpie®. Record incubation start date, sire/dam iden-
tification, incubation parameters and fertility, and hatching information in an egg log or data sheet

Hand-Rearing Birds, Second Edition. Edited by Rebecca S. Duerr and Laurie J. Gage.
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Published 2020 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.