Our photographer, Julie Higgs, has a wicked sense of humour capturing this Australian white Ibis in a compromising position. The Ibis itself is doing little to rid itself and its fellows of its common Australian moniker.
The Australian White Ibis is one of the country’s most adaptable native birds. Long before it became a familiar sight in city parks and rubbish bins, it played an important role in Australia’s wetlands, where it feeds on insects, crustaceans, frogs and carrion, helping to keep ecosystems healthy. As wetlands have been drained and urban areas expanded, the species has simply adapted to the opportunities we have created. Rather than seeing the ibis as an urban nuisance, it is worth recognising it as a resourceful native bird whose presence reminds us of the resilience of nature.
For many Aboriginal peoples, the ibis is more than just a bird. It features in the knowledge, stories and traditions of a number of First Nations peoples across Australia, connecting people to Country.
