Southern Bald Ibis

“ Due to hunting for its meat and feathers, this ibis, which is native to South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland, almost went extinct in the 17th century. Although the birds' numbers have increased as a result of captive breeding efforts and releases, they still do not migrate. ”

– Eostre

Scientific Taxonomy & Character Information

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Pelecaniformes

Family: Threskiornithidae

Genius: Geronticus

Species: Geronticus calvus

Descendant: ibises

Named by: Pieter Boddaert

Year Published: 1783

Size: 70–80 centimeters long, with a wingspan of 125–135 centimeters and a weight of 1–1.3 kilograms

Lifespan:

Wild: 10–15 years
Captivity: 10–30 years

Activity: Diurnal 🌅

Thermoregulate: Endotherm

Type:

Reptile (Archosaurs)
Birds (Ibises)

Title(s): Southern Ibis

Other Name(s)/Alias(es):

Southern Waldrapp

Pantheon: Terran/Gaian 🇺🇳

Time Period: Middle Miocene–Holocene

Alignment: Docile

Threat Level: ★★

Diet: Omnivorous 🥩🌿

Elements: Air 🌬️

Inflicts: Stench 💩, Fatigue 😫

Weaknesses: Fire 🔥, Rock 🪨, Electric ⚡, Ice ❄️

Casualties: none

Based On: Itself

Conservation Status: Vulnerable (VU) – IUCN Red List

The Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus) is a large bird found in open grassland or semi-desert in the mountains of southern Africa. Taxonomically, it is most closely related to its counterpart in the northern regions of Africa, the waldrapp.

Etymology

The bird's Latin name, Geronticus calvus, is translated as “bald, old man”, referring to the bird's featherless, wrinkled head and face.

Physical Appearance

An unusual bird that is native to the southern African highlands is the southern bald ibis. An estimated 4,600 birds make up the species' total breeding population in South Africa. The breeding population is estimated to be between 1,600 and 2,000 birds, while the overall population is estimated to be between 6,500 and 8,000 as of the 2020s. However, not much is understood about this species' biology.

Its plumage is dark green with iridescent streaks of green, violet, and bronze. The neck features lengthy blue-green feathers. As adults, its shoulders are copper-colored. However, as juveniles, their plumage is mostly a dull grey color.

The naked pale skin on the skull is the most distinguishing feature of this species. The crown of the head is crimson and dome-shaped. These birds have down-curved, crimson bills and legs. Similarly, their eyes are orange-red.

Abilities

The southern bald ibis is a rather quiet bird. This species, in particular, has been reported to make a mild gobbling sound. This relates to their former Afrikaans name, "Wilde-Kalkoen," which translates as "wild turkey." This bird is particularly vocal in the nesting areas and while flying. It makes a high-pitched keeaaw-klaup-klaup sound, similar to a turkey's. The southern bald ibis feeds and roosts in big flocks. They go in groups of up to 100 people to discover good foraging spots. As insectivores, their food consists primarily of insects and other tiny invertebrates found in burned grasslands. The species lives on cliff edges and breeds in colonies. They make few vocalizations apart from occasional gobbling sounds.

Weather Phenomenon

Bird Droppings: Birds, bats, and pterosaurs all produce droppings from the sky, which can spread disease; thus, it is critical to clean them up correctly. You can use a cleaner designed specifically for bird droppings, but wear protective eyewear and gloves. You can also use disinfectant to loosen the droppings before cleaning.

Ecology

This species is insectivorous and feeds predominantly on insects and other small terrestrial invertebrates. It is a forager, alternating between feeding in harvested maize fields, overgrazed pastures and burnt grasslands. They walk along the land while pecking and probing the ground. The main component of its diet is the caterpillar of the maize stalk borer, Busseola fusca. This bird will also turn over feces and leaves to search for prey including caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetles, earthworms, snails and sometimes frogs, small dead mammals and birds.

Throughout July and the first half of August, before laying their eggs, the birds are found foraging in maize fields. In the second half of August and early September, during the incubation period, the birds are seen alternating between the maize fields, grazed pastures and burnt grasslands. Finally, in the nestling phase of September and October, they forge in maize fields, but more frequently in ploughed fields. It is only on rare occasions that ibises are seen in tall grasses and almost never in marshy areas. These birds avoid the tall grasses due to the hindering of their mobility and the potential hiding of their prey. This area would require a slow-walk feeding technique, whereas this bird is known to use a fast-walk technique for their feeding. They also appear to avoid foraging in areas very close to their nesting sites.

Their predominant feeding area, the burnt grasslands, are termed “sour” due to the low availability of nutrients. These areas are burned every 1 to 3 years to clear any excess of foliage. In winter and spring, the ibises feed in the burned areas where new growth is emerging and scavenge for any available insects. Their breeding season is linked with the burning period of these crops. Therefore, successful breeding and survival is partially dependent on the availability of these burned grasslands.

The southern bald ibis nests in cliffs and breeds on open ledges. Due to the mostly inaccessible nature of these areas, observations during breeding season are difficult to obtain. However, these birds are known to breed predominantly in colonies, while some pairs decide to nest away from the rest. The females lay their eggs anywhere from late July to mid-October. Following this, the young develop feathers for flight around mid-October and into the month of December.

Their nests are made mostly of sticks and grass. On average, the collection of these materials begins around two weeks before the first egg is laid. Once the first egg is laid, incubation lasts from 26 to 32 days. The incubating birds change their position and rotate the egg more frequently around three days before the hatch day. Once hatched, the chicks spend the first 7 to 10 days feeding from their parents via regurgitation. After 35 days, the young leave the nest to wander around and after 40 to 50 days, the chicks are able to fly, but still spend most of their time on the ledges of the cliff or in their nest.

Conservation

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species now lists the southern bald ibis as vulnerable. The species is not in immediate danger of going extinct, though. Additionally, the bird is included in the Convention on International trading in Endangered Species (CITES), which indicates that there are significant regulations on the trading of this species.

Human interference at breeding locations, as well as habitat deterioration, are major contributors to the species' decline. The majority of nesting locations are on privately held territory, with just a limited number of breeding pairs found on nature reserves or state forest land, where they are given protection.

As a result, private landowners' efforts and donations benefit a substantial percentage of the population. Another threat is that adult birds may be trapped in order to collect eggs and nestlings for food or medicine in certain African tribal customs. Hunting these birds has also become popular among farming communities as a way to replenish meat supply. Local hunting remains a threat today.

Behavior

Although not dangerous or aggressive, they can be intimidating due to their large size and long beak. Fecal drops under roost trees and in feeding areas can be smelly and very messy. Avoid giving ibises your scraps as it will start to make them less wary of people, to the point where they can get greedy and snatch food right out of your hand.

Distribution and Habitat

The southern bald ibis is only found in west Swaziland, Lesotho, and northeastern South Africa. The KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg, Mpumalanga, and the northeastern Free State comprise the core range. There is indications that it is beginning to recolonize the Eastern Cape from Lesotho, where it was once common. Although there are more than 150 colonies in South Africa, only five of them account for 25% of the breeding population. A total of about 110 birds live in Swaziland's three primary breeding colonies, each of which supports at least 10 pairs. With multiple breeding colonies known to exist, the population in Lesotho is most likely in the low thousands.

The Southern Bald Ibis prefers high rainfall (>700 mm p.a.), sour and alpine grasslands, characterized by an absence of trees and a short, dense grass sward. It also occurs in lightly wooded and relatively arid countries. It forages preferentially on recently burned ground, also using unburnt natural grassland, cultivated pastures, reaped maize fields and plowed areas.

Movement Pattern: Not a Migrant
Individual Type: Solo
Population Trend: Stable
Population: 3,300-4,000
Locomotion: Airborne
Habitat: Montane Grasslands and Shrublands; Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests; Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Salt Flats; Stone Forest; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Mushroom Forests; Mushroom Fields; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Mountain; Sky; Warm River; Cold River; Lukewarm River; Radiated Citadel; Volcano; Warm Ghost Town; Cold Ghost Town; Ruined Skyscraper.
Earth:
- Extant (resident): Eswatini; Lesotho; South Africa
Berbania/Hirawhassa: none
Reinachos/Ityosel: none
Thatrollwa: none
Sawintir: none
Agarathos: none

Tamed

To tame the ibis, you must follow two concepts. The ibis was tranquilized with gunshots, fed while asleep, and repeatedly overdosed on opiates. The ibis is rapidly domesticated when it hatches from an egg because the survivor is always within 17 radii of the egg. If the ibis chick hasn't previously been tamed, you can do so with a worm.