Page 23 - Silver Lakes April 2021

NATURE

The Hadeda is a large bird – approximately at the main temples each year. To sustain Glossy Ibises undertake dispersal
76cm long. Hadeda Ibises roost in groups these huge numbers of birds and to movements after breeding and are highly
in trees. They feed on insects, millipedes supply the vast demand for sacrifices by nomadic. They often roost communally at
and earthworms by using their long pilgrims from all over Egypt, dozens of night in large flocks, with other species,
scimitar-like bill to probe soft soil. They Ibis breeding farms (called ibiotropheia occasionally in trees which can be some
also eat larger insects (such as the by Herodotus) were established. By 1850, distance from wetland feeding areas.
Parktown Prawn), spiders and small lizards. however, the species had disappeared They feed in very shallow water and nest
These birds also feed readily on snails and from Egypt both as a breeding and in freshwater or brackish wetlands with
often clear garden beds around residential migrant population. tall dense stands of emergent vegetation
homes. They are particularly welcomed on such as reeds, papyrus or rushes and low
bowling and golf greens because they are The species did not breed in Southern trees or bushes. They show a preference
assiduous when extracting the larvae of Africa before the beginning of the for marshes at the margins of lakes and
moths and beetles that feed on the grass 20th century, but it has benefited rivers but can also be found in lagoons,
roots. from irrigation, dams, and commercial floodplains, wet meadows, swamps,
agricultural practices such as dung heaps, reservoirs, sewage ponds, paddies and
In Zululand, the name ingqangqa- carrion and refuse tips. It began to breed irrigated farmland.
mathumba indicates that anyone who in the early 20th century, and in the 1970s
mocks the bird will break out in abscesses. the first colonies of Ibises were recorded in Their nest is usually a platform of twigs
Zimbabwe and South Africa. and vegetation positioned at least 1m
African Sacred Ibis - (Threskiornis above water, sometimes up to 7m when in
aethiopicus) The African Sacred Ibis is found in marshy tall dense stands of emergent vegetation,
The African Sacred Ibis is a wading bird of wetlands and mud flats. It prefers to nest low trees or bushes. Three to four eggs
the family Threskiornithidae. It is native to in trees in or near water. It feeds by wading (occasionally five) are laid and are
Africa and the Middle East. It is especially in very shallow wetlands or by slowly incubated by both male and female birds
known for its role in the religion of the stomping in wet pastures with soft soil. It for between 20 and 23 days.
ancient Egyptians, where it was linked to will also visit cultivated land and landfills.
the god Thoth. It feeds primarily by day, generally in The diet of the Glossy Ibis is variable
flocks. The diet consists mainly of insects, according to the season and is very
Adult individuals are approximately 68cm worms, crustaceans, molluscs, and dependent on what is available. Prey
long. They have all-white body plumage other invertebrates, as well as various includes adult- and larval insects (such as
with dark plumes on the rump. The bald fish, frogs, reptiles, small mammals and aquatic beetles, dragonflies, damselflies,
head and neck, thick curved bill and legs carrion. It may also probe into the soil grasshoppers, crickets, flies and
are black. The white wings show a black with its long beak for invertebrates such caddisflies), Annelida, including leeches,
rear border in flight. The eyes are brown as earthworms. It sometimes even feeds molluscs (snails and mussels), crustaceans
with a dark red orbital ring. This bird is on seeds. (crabs and crayfish) and occasionally fish,
usually silent, but occasionally makes amphibians, lizards, small snakes and
puppy-like yelping noises, unlike its vocal Glossy Ibis - (Plegadis falcinellus) nestling birds.
relative, the Hadeda Ibis. Some of the This species is a middle-sized Ibis of
South African birds migrate 1,500km as far approximately 48 to 66cm. The Glossy The next time that you have a noisy
north as Zambia. Ibis is the most widespread Ibis species, Hadeda in your garden, think of all the
breeding in scattered sites in warm good they can do by getting rid of all those
In Egypt, over a period of many centuries regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia Parktown Prawns and snails….
up to the Roman period, thousands of and the Atlantic and Caribbean regions of
Sacred Ibises were sacrificed and buried the Americas. *Source material – Wikipedia.

Sacred Ibis

INTRA MUROS APRIL 2021 21