Wild journeys of Moreton Bay’s ibis

A major tracking study has revealed where the likes of Taba, Nibbles and Serena - Moreton Bay’s white ibis have travelled - with surprising results.

Of 169 ibis - also known as bin chickens - tagged in Moreton Bay, some had travelled as far as Mackay and Bryon Bay, while others stayed close to home.

Council engaged the University of Sunshine Coast in 2021 to investigate ibis populations after breeding sites in Moreton Bay increased from 17 to 70 locations in four years.

That aim was to find out if ibis populations are resident or migratory, identify preferred breeding habitats and how they use the landscape.

Over two years ibis were fitted with blue and pink tags at Bribie Island, Bunya, Caboolture, Morayfield, Burpengary East, Scarborough, Strathpine, Lawnton and Woodford.

Nineteen were fitted with short-term GPS trackers, which have provided precise insights into their daily movements.

Since then sightings have been reported at Mackay, Rockhampton, Gympie, Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Logan, Gold Coast, Fraser Coast and Byron Bay.

Tracking shows since 2024 Taba (a sub-adult male) stayed in Caboolture area for a few weeks, had a quick stopover at Caloundra before heading to Noosa and Gympie.

Taba was at Gympie Waste Management Facility for four months and in September 2024 returned to Moreton Bay, moving between Dakabin tip and the southern parts of this region.

Nibbles (adult female) was tagged at the Caboolture tip in March 2024 and seen in Rockhampton in December 2024. There have been no reported sightings since.

Serina (adult male) was tagged at Central Lakes Park, Caboolture, in July 2023. The only reported sighting was at Byron Bay in April last year.

ReeRee (adult female) was tagged at Centenary Lakes in March 2024 and has never been recorded further than 5km from there.

“Australian White Ibis are native to Australia and are an important part of our local ecology,” Mayor Peter Flannery said.

“While the ibis is well-known for visiting outdoor dining areas and sometimes nesting in unsuitable locations, such as near major roads, this research will help us prevent the kinds of issues seen elsewhere in South East Queensland.”

UniSC Associate Professor Dominique Potvin said “These insights into their movement show the colonies we see are part of a larger network that spans across council and state borders.”

“These birds provide valuable ecosystem services, and research into where they live and how they decide where to go, can help us manage our urban landscapes for the good of ibis, people, and all the other wildlife that share our cities.”

Council encourages residents, businesses and visitors to support ibis management by not feeding the birds, keeping outdoor areas clean, and ensuring rubbish bins are securely closed.

Community members can also help the research by recording sightings of tagged ibis through the free Big City Birds citizen-science app.