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Results of Australian White Ibis Community count
conducted on Saturday 15th November 2003.
A total of 26 responses were received, which
covered 39 different sites at which Australian white Ibis were counted in the
Sydney region on Saturday the 15th of November 2003. One response was received
from Byron Bay. The responses were received both by mail and phone.
Unfortunately due to technical difficulties, no responses were received via the
internet. counts were conducted throughtout the day with the earliest at 6:30 am
and the latest at 7pm. Only two sites were counted twice in the day, namely
Burwood Park and Mill Point road wetlands. the largest count from each of these
sites was counted towards a total count on the day of 5258.
Two previously identified nesting sites in sydney
were not counted on the day, hence the total count is likely to be an
underestimation of the total number. These sites are Cabramatta Creek and
Eastern Creek Waste service site gave a total of 15 nest, approximately 30 Ibis
. If these numbers are included with the survery count an approximate count of
the Australian White Ibis in the Sydney region is 6300 birds.
Of the sites counted on the day , the largest count
was at Lake Gillawarna in Bankstown, with 3800 birds counted. This count was
conducted at 7pm when the numbers were at maximum capacity at the end of the
day. The second largest count was from Centennial Parklands with 550 birds also
counted at 7pm. The survey helped identify 12 new sites in the Sydney region.
These sites will be further investigated over the coming months.
Out of the 39 sites identified in the survey, nine
were sites where Ibis were nesting. These ranged from large colonies such
as those in Centennial Parklands, The Royal Botanic Gardens and Lake Gillawarna
to nesting that was occurring in single palm trees. Eight sites were identified
as sites where Ibis were roosting. The largest number of sites, sixteen, were
sites where Ibis were only foraging.
All the reported sites in the survey were from
southern Sydney, both east and west. There were no reported sites from Northern
Sydney.
The value of this survey is that it forms a
baseline for ongoing surveys of this species across the Sydney region. Many
lessons were learnt from this first citywide community survey and it is hoped
future surveys will receive greater response from the public. The next survey is
planned for late summer.
Cici Legoe
PS Look out now for colour banded Ibis
which have been banded at Lake Gillawarna. The birds are banded on the right leg
white, white over metal. Also if any nesting sites or roosting sites are
observed within the Sydney region please email me with the
location. Regards
Terrill
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