Threskiornis aethiopicus
These easily recognisable, medium-sized birds (1-2kg) are extremely gregarious, flying and roosting in large flocks, and can be found near inland and coastal wetlands of all description, including sewerage works. Their natural diet consists of insects, worms, crustaceans, molluscs, fish, frogs, eggs, nestlings and carrion, and they are often to be found on the outskirts of towns scavenging at rubbish dumps and abattoirs. African Sacred Ibisses start breeding at the onset of the rainy season, in mixed-species colonies of up to 2000 pairs. Nests, in which 2 to 3 eggs are laid, consist of sticks and branches and are built in reeds or trees or on the ground on rocky islands.
Thanks to a wide distribution across most of Sub-Saharan Africa, and a large though probably declining population (200,000 to 450,000), the IUCN considers the African Sacred Ibis to be of Least Concern. The species is a common resident in most parts of South Africa, local numbers often swollen in summer by individuals migrating southwards from the equator, and have been introduced to Europe, the USA (Florida) and Taiwan. They are now extinct in Egypt, where they were once considered a sacred symbol of one of the Egyptian deities, and often mummified.
DeWetsWild 
So… as they don’t occur in Egypt any longer, can we call them Un-sacred Ibis? They really act that way!! 😉
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No use denying their holy heritage, AJ! 😀
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Ah well… more like holey! 😉
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The White Ibis, also known as Tip Turkey or Bin Chicken 😂 I always refer to them as ‘flying rats’!
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The ancient Egyptians would have had you tortured for such blasphemy, Maurice! 😀
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Sure thing; I’d probably still be busy building one of the pyramids 😀
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😀
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In Australia, these birds are known as “tip birds” because they are always found poking around rubbish tips. Interesting to know that they are considered sacred in Africa.
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Quite a cultural difference, Penne! 😀
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How odd that they’re no longer in Egypt but doing well elsewhere.
janet
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Good question, Janet! Perhaps they were mummified into extinction! 😀
Seriously though, it seems they were wiped from Egypt in the 1890’s due to loss of habitat – ancient Egypt it seems was a lot less dry, and certainly far less densely populated by humans, than it is today.
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After a little research I found the following:
Ibises and spoonbills[edit]
Order PelecaniformesFamily Threskiornithidae
Australian Ibis Threskiornis moluccus
Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis
Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes
Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Cheers
Lorraine
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Thanks Lorraine – I just had to go look for them on wikipedia and the family resemblance is very clear, especially for the Australian ibis!
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I really like that first portrait shot.
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Thanks a lot, P J B!
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Ons kry hulle gereeld hier en sien hulle baie hier oor my huis vlieg in hulle V formasie!
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Dis fasinerend om daardie v-swerms dop te hou, ne Aletta? As die voorste een bietjie op of af, volg die hele spul in n golfbeweging agterna!
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Dit is ongelooflik om dit te sien!
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I grew up in country Victoria, Australia where Ibis were plentiful. They were actually the school emblem as well. Not sure what type of Ibis but I will investigate :). I have always loved them.
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That’s very interesting, Rainee! It always amazes me how similar our birdfauna is to that of Australia.
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