The Brisbane Times is claiming Brisbane City Council figures show that the bird’s ibis population has fallen to 3,228 from the 4,712 recorded the previous year – and experts have no idea why.
The Council says it has made a number of changes – including cutting down potential food sources through additional bins, more frequent collection of rubbish and extra cleaning at picnic areas – but experts say they still don’t account for the drop.
Griffith University urban ecologist Professor Darryl Jones said it’s possible the ibis have just reached “maximum capacity”.
“There’s not enough food and space for them to reach any more numbers,” he said.
Bizarrely, the University’s latest research has revealed 70 per cent of thousands of ibis interactions recorded across the city in the past year were regarded as “enjoyable”, with some tourists were even taking selfies with the native bird.
“That has totally astounded us,” he said. “Selfies with ibis is something you’ve got to say is unexpected.”
We’d second that – they’ll always be ‘tip turkeys’ to us.
