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Straw-necked IbisAlternative names: "Farmer's Friend", "Dryweather-bird", "Letter-bird" Aboriginal names: "paipan", "murrgumurrgu" [yuwaalaraay] |
Sightings
Straw-necked Ibises are commonly found in the Narrabri region, in all wet, moist or muddy areas. After rainfall their numbers increase noticeably. In September 2008 a flock of around 100 birds came to Eulah Creek, 20 km east of Narrabri, NSW, 1-2 weeks after significant rainfall.
Also sighted on a trip to the east of the dividing range, in the area from Armidale to Dorrigo and Clarence river downs (Iluka), New South Wales.
Large numbers (of order 30000, according to local NPWS officers) of birds were nesting at the Narran Lakes Nature Reserve, 50 km north-west of Walgett, in March 2008. At the time we passed the area, a smaller number of birds could also be observed on the fringes of the reserve.
Photos
Straw-necked Ibises invading the Australia Telescope Compact Array observatory in large numbers (click on photo for larger version)
Straw-necked Ibises taking to flight (click on photo for larger version)
Straw-necked Ibis with its head turned (click on photo for larger version)
Lateral view of a Straw-necked Ibis (click on photo for larger version)
Straw-necked Ibis having a drink (click on photo for larger version)
Straw-necked Ibis in flight
Here a pair of Straw-necked Ibises at Iluka Bluff, Iluka Nature Reserve, northeastern New South Wales (click on photo for larger version)
This immature Straw-necked Ibis that does not have the typical feathers yet that give the race its name called our place its home for a while. It appeared at our place, 20 km south of Narrabri, New South Wales, in January 2006 (click on photo for larger version)