There are three types of Ibis in Australia. The Australian White Ibis, often seen around cities, the smaller Glossy Ibis, and the Straw-necked Ibis. All three types occur locally.
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Ibis are widespread across most of Australia except for very dry desert areas. They have been recorded flying thousands of kilometres on a seasonal basis and in response to local environmental conditions.
The CSIRO has been undertaking a satellite GPS tracking study for several years which seems to show that Straw-necked Ibis have common "flyways" or long-distance routes that birds from many areas use. These flyways avoid areas that are dry, that are highly elevated or are forested.
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The Straw-necked Ibis is a large water bird with a naked black head and a long downturned bill and yellow straw like throat plumes. They have stunning iridescent plumage, purple, green and bronze, evident in good light.
They are quite easily distinguished from the more common Australian White Ibis, which is predominantly white, with a black head and neck and a very fancy patch of black lacy feathers above the white tail.
Their preferred habitat is grasslands, croplands and pastures and they also can be seen on the edges of swamps and lagoons.
They love grasshoppers and locusts and, in the past, have been referred to as "farmers friends". They also eat frogs, small reptiles, and mammals. Their long, curved bill is used for probing soil and water surfaces, for tasty morsels.
Unlike their white "cousins", these birds are not likely to be found raiding urban bins, and avoid humans.
They are very evident in the Hunter Valley at the moment and can be found on almost any farmland in flocks ranging from dozens to hundreds. They seem particularly to like foraging after rain or when the turf farms around Maitland are watering the grass. Quite often Australian White Ibis are also present.
Ibis nest in colonies, often containing other water birds, and build their nests in trees over water.
A platform of reeds, rushes and sticks is built by both the male and female bird, which is often reused every year, if they are not disturbed and can become enormous.
One of the awe-inspiring sights is to see them in flight, spiralling high into the sky and flying in a "v" shaped formation.