Ibis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ibis |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Black Ibis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: |
Threskiornithinae
Poche, 1904
|
| Genera | |
|
|
Ibises are a group of interesting birds with long legs. They are known as wading birds because they often walk in shallow water. These birds belong to the family called Threskiornithidae.
All ibises have long bills that curve downwards. They usually search for food together in groups. They use their long bills to probe in the mud for small creatures. Their favorite foods are often crustaceans, like tiny crabs or shrimp. Most types of ibises build their nests in trees. They often share their nesting areas with other birds like spoonbills or herons.
The word "ibis" comes from ancient Greek and Latin languages. It might even come from the language of Ancient Egypt. Long ago, people believed ibises were special. For example, Pliny the Elder wrote that Egyptians called upon ibises to help against snakes.
Contents
Ibises in Culture and History
Ibises have been important to humans for a very long time. They appear in stories, art, and even as mascots.
Ancient Egypt's Sacred Ibis
The African sacred ibis was a very important bird in ancient Egypt. People in Egypt thought it was a holy bird. It was linked to the god Thoth, who was in charge of writing, math, and magic. In ancient Egyptian art, Thoth was often shown as a man with the head of an ibis.
Archaeologists have found many mummified ibises. At a place called Saqqara, they found over a million mummified ibises. This shows how much the ancient Egyptians respected these birds.
Ibis Legends and Symbols
In some parts of Turkey, there is a special legend about the northern bald ibis. People there believe it was one of the first birds that Noah let out of his Ark. They thought it was a symbol of new life and good luck. This belief helped protect these birds in Turkey for a long time.
The University of Miami in the United States has an American white ibis as its mascot. Its name is Sebastian. The ibis was chosen because of a brave legend. It's said that the ibis is the last animal to hide before a hurricane. It's also the first animal to come out after the storm passes. This makes it a symbol of courage and hope.
The humor magazine at Harvard University uses the ibis as its symbol. A large copper statue of an ibis sits on the roof of their building. Also, the UNSW in Australia uses the black-headed ibis as a mascot. This is because these birds are often seen on their campus.
A famous short story called "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst uses the ibis. The bird in the story helps to hint at a character's future. It is also a main symbol in the story.
In Israel, the African sacred ibis is a symbol for a special military unit. This unit is called Unit 212 or Maglan.
Modern Nicknames
In Australia, the Australian white ibis is sometimes called a "bin chicken." This funny nickname comes from their habit of looking for food in trash cans in cities.
Images for kids
-
Black headed ibis
-
Black ibis
.jpg)
_in_AP_W_IMG_3918.jpg)
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Ibis para niños
