A flock of straw-necked ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis) and Australian white ibis (Threskiornis molucca) take to the sky above their breeding site at Barmah-Millewa Forest, a wetland of the Murray River. Image credit: Heather McGinness, via CSIRO project page.
New research from the CSIRO aimed at improving water management in the Murray-Darling has revealed intimate, fascinating detail about the lives of individual animals.
The fitting of GPS trackers to follow movements of 40 Straw-necked Ibis, 15 Royal Spoonbills and five Australian white Ibis this year has made the project the largest tracking study on Australian waterbirds, and revealed the intricate patterns and personalities of the birds.
Researchers were intending to determine the birds’ flight routes, eating and breeding sites to help boost survival rates, and inform interaction between water management, predation, extreme weather and food abundance.
What they discovered was a rich, detailed dataset of behaviour patterns that defied expectations and showed remarkable variance in the movements and habits of individuals. See below for some of the notable stars of the Murray-Darling wetlands. Click on each map to view in full resolution.
Gaia
Adult female straw-necked ibis
Tracked from: Kow Swamp, Victoria
Date tracked from: 3/12/17
Right leg band colours: orange over metal
Left leg band colours: red over white
Elvis
Adult royal spoonbill
Tracked from: Millewa Forest, NSW
Date tracked from: 27/2/18
Right leg band colours: orange over metal
Left leg band colours: dark blue over white
Santa
Juvenile male straw-necked ibis
Tracked from: Kow Swamp, Victoria
Date tracked from: 2/12/17
Right leg band colours: orange over metal
Left leg band colours: red over dark green
Lucy
Juvenile royal spoonbill
Tracked from: Millewa Forest, NSW
Date tracked from: 25/2/18
Right leg band colours: orange over metal
Left leg band colours: light blue over black
View the full cohort of tracked birds and their unique patterns at the CSIRO’s tracking page, and learn more about the greater initiative at the project page.
