Australian White Ibis

Also know as: bin chicken, tip turkey

The Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) is a native bird that plays an important role in our local ecosystem. They are critical to natural pest management, preying on insects and grubs in addition to foraging for crustaceans, frogs, fish, small mammals and snails. They are one of the few species that have adapted to eating cane toads.

Status

The Australian White Ibis is a protected species under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and their conservation listing in Queensland is “Least Concern”.

Where is the Australian white ibis found?

On Redlands Coast you will find ibis in their natural habitat - swampy, wetland areas, mudflats, parks, open paddocks and beaches.  You may also find them in parklands, school grounds and other urban environments where they feed on unattended or discarded human food scraps.  Like all our native birds, human food can negatively impact the health of the ibis.

What do ibis eat? 

Ibis feed on a variety of invertebrates and other animals, and hunt by using their distinctive curved beak to probe around in the soil and water. This makes them an important ecosystem engineer because they aerate the soil and improve its quality. They also help to keep pest insect populations in check, earning them the name “the farmers friend”.

How ibis are managed on Redlands Coast

Council are part of the Australian White Ibis Management Program which is a collaboration between Local Government Areas and offers a coordinated approach to ibis management in the region. The program aims to reduce any negative impacts on residents as well as maintain a stable population of these unique native birds. 

Ibis behaviour

Ibis are traditionally a nomadic species, following their food supply around Australia and moving between wetlands in response to flood events. The availability of food scraps in urban areas, a decline in the quality of their natural habitat from ongoing development and climate change has led to an explosion in ibis populations in cities.

Ibis are social birds and form large colonies in roosting trees. During the breeding season, males try to impress a female by offering her a stick. If the female approves of the stick and accepts the offer, the pair becomes bonded and move to a new location to start their family. Ibis communicate by honking and it can be very noisy living near an ibis roost.

Ibis challenges?

There are several measures that can be taken to reduce the negative impacts of ibis populations in urban areas