Malagasy sacred ibis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Malagasy sacred ibis |
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The Malagasy sacred ibis (Threskiornis bernieri) is a large bird. It is a type of ibis found only on the west coast of Madagascar. It also lives on Aldabra in the Seychelles islands.
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About This Ibis
The Malagasy sacred ibis was once thought to be a type of African sacred ibis. But now, scientists know it is a different species. This is because it looks and acts quite differently. Scientists think it might have evolved from African sacred ibises that flew to Madagascar long ago.
There are two types, or subspecies, of the Malagasy sacred ibis. One is called Threskiornis bernieri bernieri. It lives on Madagascar. The other is T.b. abbotti. It lives on Aldabra in the Seychelles.
What Does It Look Like?
An adult Malagasy sacred ibis stands about 65–89 cm (25-35 inches) tall. Its wings can spread 112–124 cm (44-49 inches) wide. Most of its feathers are white. Sometimes, they have a brownish-yellow color. It has black feathers on its back that shine with blue or green. These are most noticeable when the bird is ready to breed. Its beak, head, neck, and legs are all black.
This ibis looks a lot like the African sacred ibis. However, it is a bit smaller. Its beak is also thinner. Unlike the African sacred ibis, it has very little black on its wing tips. Its display feathers are also duller.
Both types of Malagasy sacred ibis have light blue or white eyes. This is different from the brown eyes of the African sacred ibis. The abbotti type also has a black stripe on its wing. It is rare to confuse this bird with others. But sometimes, an African sacred ibis might visit Madagascar.
Young ibises look similar to adults. But their head and neck have black feathers with white stripes. They do not have the fancy black feathers on their back yet. They might also have some black on their wing tips.
These birds usually do not make much noise. Their calls are probably like those of the African Sacred Ibis.
Where Does It Live?
The Malagasy sacred ibis lives mainly along the west coast of Madagascar. You can find it between Port-Berge and Moromoe. It is not very common. But many breeding pairs live in mangrove forests and river mouths near Soalala and Sahamalaza Bay. The area around Baie de Baly is also a strong home for them. It also lives on Aldabra.
This ibis mostly lives in coastal areas. This includes muddy shores, river mouths, and mangrove swamps. It also likes shallow, salty coastal lakes. Sometimes, it can be found in freshwater wetlands. It prefers wide, open pools without plants around them. It also rests on sand bars and sandy beaches. Most of these birds are found within 2 km (1.2 miles) of the coast. They live at sea level up to 150 meters (492 feet) high. This ibis sticks to fewer types of places than its African cousin.
Life and Habits
What Do They Eat?
The Malagasy sacred ibis eats small sea creatures like crabs. It also eats many different insects and other small animals. Sometimes, it eats plant bits. Less often, it will eat frogs, reptiles, and young birds. It mostly looks for food in the mud of tidal areas. It pushes its long beak deep into the mud, sometimes up to its eyes. The abbotti type on the Seychelles eats in coral pools and along lagoon shores. These birds often feed alone. But sometimes, you can see them looking for food in pairs or small groups of three.
Reproduction
These ibises lay eggs at the start of the wet season. This is usually in November and December. They typically lay two eggs at a time. For the T.a. abbotti type, eggs are about 59.5mm long and 41.3mm wide. They weigh about 55 grams.
This ibis builds its nests in groups, called colonies. Sometimes, they nest with other birds like the Humblot's heron or egrets such as the cattle egret and dimorphic egret. Their nests are built 2-3 meters (6-10 feet) above the water. They are placed in the forks of Avicennia and Rhizophora trees. The nests are made mostly of twigs, some still with leaves. They are strong nests, about 450-500mm (17-19 inches) wide and 250mm (9 inches) deep. Some nests have been reported to be smaller, around 250mm (9 inches) wide.
Threats and Survival
The number of Malagasy sacred ibises in Madagascar has been going down. This is mainly because people collect their eggs too much. Also, their nesting places are disturbed. Their wetland homes are being damaged. For the abbotti type, human activity and loss of habitat are also problems. These birds are not afraid of people when they nest. This makes them easy targets for hunters.
Losing their homes is a big threat. Important areas where they live are harmed by pollution and dirt building up. This dirt comes from soil washing away due to "slash and burn" farming. This is when people cut down and burn trees to clear land. Their mangrove homes are also being destroyed to make charcoal. This ibis might also have to compete for food with other birds like the dimorphic egret.
For a long time, this ibis was thought to be the same as the African sacred ibis. So, no special efforts were made to protect it. Coastal areas in western Madagascar are not well protected. But now, new plans to protect wetlands include this species. On the Seychelles, the Aldabra atoll is a special protected area.
Ibis and Humans
Local villagers have often hunted this species. They also collect its eggs for food. Young birds from nests have even been raised to be eaten at special events. This ibis is easy to catch because it is calm and not careful when it feeds and nests.
In 1870, two Malagasy sacred ibises were sent to the London Zoo.
Conservation Status
There are an estimated 1500-2000 adult Malagasy sacred ibises in Madagascar. The abbotti type on Aldabra has about 300-750 individuals. This means there are about 2300-3250 of these birds in total. Their total living area is about 25500 square kilometers. The number of these birds worldwide has dropped by over 20% in the last 16 years. Most of this drop has happened recently.
Because of this, the Malagasy sacred ibis is listed as an Endangered species by the IUCN. It is generally considered rare wherever it lives. Old records suggest it was once more common.
