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African Sacred Ibis in Taiwan

on 28th January 2019

“While in Taiwan we saw the African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus aethiopicus) that accidently entered the wild more than 35 years ago when a zoo enclosure (aviary) in the north (Hsinchu County) was damaged during a typhoon. Populations soon mushroomed from 200 in 1998, 500-600 in 2011 and 2,500-3,000 in 2018, with birds found on islands 190km off the coast near mainland China.

Possible a first winter bird.

“I have been reflecting on the impact of feral/imported birds on local bird populations after watching them and my write up on the African Sacred Ibis as an invasive species is found HERE.

Possible a first winter bird.

“I tried to estimate change over time and it appears exponential, although in Europe it has been linear (but effective culling is taking place there). In Taiwan attempts have been made since 2016 to reduce the numbers by egg oiling, removing its eggs, destroying its nests and removing young hatchlings. But none of these measures have yet proven to be effective.

Possible a first winter bird.

“Many of the birds we saw were first winter birds. Yesou & Clergeau 2005 (Sacred Ibis: a new invasive species in Europe. Birding World 18 (12): 517-526, Available online) differentiates first-winters from juveniles: ‘Juveniles show a feathered neck and head; the tertials and tips to the remiges are brownish-black.’ ‘First-winters are intermediate, with the head and neck still well-feathered and some blackish ornamental plumes. They also show a variable amount of black along the centres of the tertials and greater coverts and even, in a few birds, on the median coverts.’

“Yesou & Clergeau 2005 also refer to these birds as the nominate form T. a. aethiopicus with a dark brown iris and black tips to the primaries and secondaries, which form a black trailing edge to the wing in flight. They state that the subspecies T. a. bernieri and T. a. abbotti ‘lack the black trailing edge to the wing and show a white iris (bernieri) or pale blue iris (abbotti).’

African Sacred Ibis feeding in Dayuan Township, Taoyuan City County, Taiwan, 19th January 2019 (Adult birds).

“I think the birds in the first three images above are first winter birds. The above shows 2 adults feeding. They have a wide selection of prey and peck or probing in mud or soft earth or shallow waters (see second and above images).

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
14 & 19th January 2019

Location: Dayuan Township, Taoyuan City County, Taiwan
Habitat: Wetlands farming area near the sea

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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