Australian White Ibis survey
Colour-banded Australian White IbisPhoto: Richard Major © Australian Museum
The spectrum of colour bandsPhoto: John Martin
Australian White Ibis are considered pests by some people.Photo: R. Major © Australian Museum
Palm trees provide excellent nesting habitat for Australian White IbisPhoto: R. Major © Australian Museum
Banded Australian White Ibis with a radio-transmitter on its back.Photo: Richard Major © Australian Museum
Related Document
- Colour band information for Australian White Ibis
Colour band information for Australian White Ibis (283kb pdf file)
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About this survey
Australian White Ibis are, as the name suggests, a native species. White ibis were uncommon within the Sydney region thirty years ago and were generally seen in small numbers (<10) feeding in and around wetlands. Over the last thirty years their numbers have increased across Sydney, so much so that in December 2003 a Sydney wide count recorded 6000 ibis (NSW NPWS). Unfortunately, this increase has seen white ibis be branded as a 'pest' species.
In response to the white ibis management issue, research is currently under way that involves banding white ibis around Sydney to monitor movement, habitat preferences and survival. All banded ibis (see photo example) have been fitted with a numbered metal band on their right leg (above or below the "knee" joint). Additionally, birds are fitted with a site-specific colour band on the other joint of their right leg which allows the banding location of a bird to be quickly determined. Lastly, some birds have been banded with two colour bands on the lower left leg, that allow easy identification of individual birds without having to read the numbers on the metal band. There are eleven colours (pictured from left to right): red, orange, pink, pale blue, dark blue, pale green, yellow, dark green, white, black and purple.
Please report all observations of banded white ibis to John Martin (0439 876 086, john.martin@austmus.gov.au ). The critical information to record is the site master colour and if possible the two individual colours (e.g. dark blue, pink/pink), or the number on the metal band (e.g. 121 54321).
The safest way of reporting band combintations is:
Upper right leg - dark blue; Lower right leg - metal; Upper left leg - nothing; Lower left leg - pink on top of pink.
Please do not hesitate to report partial band combinations. e.g.:
Upper right leg - banded, but couldn't recognise colour; Lower right leg - metal; Upper left leg - nothing; Lower left leg - unidentified colour on top of pink.