African sacred ibis

The African sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) is a large wading bird.

It belongs to the family Threskiornithidae. This species is native to much of Africa and small parts of the Middle East. It is found in Iraq, Iran, and Kuwait. The bird is famous for its historical connection to Ancient Egyptian religion. In that culture, the ibis was linked to the god Thoth. While once common in Egypt, the species is now extirpated, meaning it no longer lives there in the wild.

An adult ibis has a very distinct appearance. The body is covered in white plumage. Dark plumes appear on the rump, which is the area at the base of the tail. The head, neck, and long, curved bill are black. When the bird flies, its white wings show a black rear border. The eyes are brown and surrounded by a dark red orbital ring.

Males are generally slightly larger than females. Juveniles look different from adults. They have dirty white plumage and some feathering on their necks. They also have greenish-brown scapulars, which are the feathers covering the shoulder.

These birds follow specific patterns to survive. Many populations are migratory, traveling to follow the seasonal rains. In South Africa, some birds migrate 1,500 km north to reach Zambia. In contrast, African birds north of the equator migrate in the opposite direction.

The Iraqi population usually migrates to southwestern Iran. However, some wandering birds have been seen as far north as the Caspian coasts of Russia. This movement ensures they are always near suitable habitats and food sources.

The scientific classification of the ibis has changed many times. In 1758, Linnaeus first described the bird. He initially thought ancient authors were describing a cattle egret. In 1790, John Latham provided the first modern scientific description. Later, in 1842, George Robert Gray moved the bird into the genus Threskiornis.

This happened because the previous genus, Tantalus, was designated for the wood stork. In 1970, Holyoak suggested that the African, Australian, and Indian ibises were all one species. However, later studies in the 1970s and 1990s by researchers like Roselaar, Sibley, and Monroe led to the recognition of separate species.

History shows a deep bond between humans and this bird. In Ancient Egypt, the ibis was venerated and often mummified.

These mummies were used as votive offerings to the god Thoth. For many centuries, temples buried tens of thousands of birds every year. Some believed that special breeding farms, called ibiotropheia, existed to meet this demand. By 1850, the species had disappeared from Egypt. Interestingly, the birds have recently expanded in southern Africa. They benefited from human changes like irrigation, dams, and even dung heaps. In the Orange Free State, the population grew two to three times larger between 1972 and 1995.

In some parts of the world, the ibis is now an introduced species. In the 1970s, many European zoos kept free-flying colonies. Some of these birds escaped or were released, creating feral populations.

These birds are now found in Italy, France, Spain, and even Taiwan. In the European Union, the African sacred ibis is listed as an Invasive Alien Species of Union concern. This means it is illegal to import, breed, or intentionally release them in the EU. In France, large populations established themselves along the Atlantic coast. In some areas, like the Mediterranean coast, officials have had to start cull programs to reduce their numbers.

The ibis's presence in different regions shows how ecosystems connect. In Yemen, small numbers remain, with an estimate of about 30 mature individuals in 2015. In Iraq, the birds faced danger when the Mesopotamian Marshes were drained in the late 1980s. Despite this, a small colony of up to 27 adults was observed in the Hawizeh Marshes in 2008. These birds demonstrate how both human activity and natural changes can shift where a species lives and thrives.