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The Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca is an unexpected addition to the small number of native birds that have recently moved into urban and suburban areas. The arrival of the species in the Central Business District of Brisbane in South East Queensland has been accompanied by an increase in associated human-wildlife conflicts. In order to provide essential ecological information of the species in this region, a series of studies have been undertaken. The present study attempts to determine the distribution of the Australian White Ibis with respect to six major habitat categories positioned along an ‘urban gradient’ from the urban centre, through suburban, exurban/rural and industrial areas, to wildland and coastal areas. Foraging ibis were surveyed during vehicle-based transects covering all parts of a 545 km2 study area. All ibis detected were assigned to one of 218 1.25 km2 cells, which covered the entire study area. Ibis were detected throughout the area, though they occurred in highest numbers within urban and coastal areas. Ibis were found in 100% of urban cells, 20-55% of suburban, rural/exurban and industrial cells and were absent from all wildland cells. A large number and diversity of foraging substrates were used by White Ibis, with suburban areas providing the largest number.

Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 2002. Queensland Climate. Commonwealth of Australia. http://www.bom.gov.au. (Accessed 21-10-2002).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2001. Australia now: population distribution. http://www.abs.gov.au. (Accessed 21-10-2002).
Bessinger, S.R. and Osborne, D.R. 1982. Effects of urbanization on avian community organization. Condor 84: 75-83.
Blair, R.B. 2001. Creating a homogeneous avifauna. Pp. 461-488 in Avian Ecology and Conservation of Birds in an Urbanizing World, edited by J.M Marzluff, R. Bowman, and R. Donnelly. Kluwer Academic, Norwell, MA.
Carrick, R. 1962. Breeding, movements, and conservation of ibises (Treskiornithidae) in Australia. CSIRO Wildlife Research 7: 71-88.
Catterall, C.P., Green, R.J. and Jones, D.N. 1991. Habitat use by birds across a forest-suburb interface in Brisbane: implications for corridors. Pp. 55-62 in Nature Conservation 2: The Role of Corridors, edited by D.A. Saunders and R.J. Hobbs. Surrey Beatty and Sons, Chipping Norton.
Chace, J.F., and Walsh, J.J. 2006. Urban effects on native avifauna: a review. Landscape and Urban Planning 74: 46-69.
Gosper, D.G., Briggs, S.V. and Carpenter, S.M. 1983. Waterbird Dynamics in the Richmond Valley, New South Wales, 1974-77. Australian Wildlife Resources 10: 319-327.
Green, B. and Jones, D.N. 2004. Living with wildlife: Australian White Ibis. Report to Brisbane City Council, Suburban Wildlife Research Group, Griffith University, Brisbane.
Filmer, I.G. 1938. The birds of Victoria Park, Brisbane. Queensland Naturalist 18(1), 34-39.
Fitzsimons, J.A., Palmer, G.C., Antos, M.J., and White, J.G. 2003. Refugees and residents: densities and habitat preferences of lorikeets in urban Melbourne. Australian Field Ornithology 20, 2-7.
IMCG Report. 1996. Working Towards A Natural Balance: A report into the findings of the Ibis Management Coordination Group's pilot program. Ibis Management Coordination Group. Gold Coast, Australia.
Jack, N. 1938. Ornithology of the Mt. Coot-tha Reserve, Taylor Range. Queensland Naturalist 10(6), 114-124.
Jones, D.N. 2003. Contemporary urban ecology: the view from the Antipodes. Pp. 745-753 in Ecosystems and Sustainable Development IV, Vol. 2. edited by E. Tiexxi, C.A. Brebbia and J.L. Usó. WIT Press, Southampton.
Jones, D.N., Enck, J.W., Siemer, W.F, Decker, D.J. and Brown, T.L. 1998. An introduction to human dimensions in wildlife management: Taking the North American experience to Australia. Human Dimensions Research Unit, Cornell University.
Jones, D.N. and Nealson, T. 2003. Ti Tree Waste management Facility Base-Line Study: Abundance and habitat Use of Significant Species. Report to Collex Pty Ltd, Suburban Wildlife Research Group, Griffith University, Brisbane.
Jones, D.N., Rhodes, M., Rollinson D. and Vogel, U. 2000 The presence of ibis, possums and brush-turkeys in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens. A Report to the BCC. Suburban Wildlife Research Group, Griffith University, Brisbane.
Low, T. 2002 The New Nature. Penguin, Sydney
Lowe, K. 1999. The dirt on Ibis. Nature Australia Autumn, 27-33.
Marchant, S. and Higgins, P.J. 1990 Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds: Volume 1 Ratites to Ducks. Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Marzluff, J.M. 2001. Worldwide urbanization and its effect on birds Pp. 19-47 in Avian Ecology and Conservation of Birds in an Urbanizing World, edited by J.M Marzluff, R. Bowman, and R. Donnelly. Kluwer Academic, Norwell, MA.
Marzluff, J.M., Bowman, R. and Donnelly, R. 2001. A historical perspective on urban bird research: trends, terms, and approaches. Pp. 1-17 in Avian Ecology and Conservation of Birds in an Urbanizing World, edited by J.M Marzluff, R. Bowman, and R. Donnelly. Kluwer Academic, Norwell, MA.
McKilligan, N.G. 1979. The Ecology of the Straw-necked Ibis In Winter at Toowoomba, South-east Queensland. Sunbird 10(3/4): 49-57.
Meyer-Gleaves S. 2003 Synanthropy of the Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca, in the greater Brisbane region. Honours Thesis, Griffith University, Brisbane.
Murray, N. J. and Shaw, P. P. 2006. Breeding biology of the Australian White Ibis Threskiorinis molucca at an urban breeding colony, south-east Queensland. Corella 30: 41-45.
Partecke, J., Schwabl, I. And Gwinner, E. 2006. Stress and the city: Urbanization and its effects on the stress physiology in European blackbirds. Ecology 87 1945-1952.
Perkins, D.L. 1974. Annual Bird Count, 1973, Queensland Ornithological Society. Sunbird 5(1): 1-9.
Rollinson, D. J. and Jones, D. N. 2006. Tolerance of Australian magpies Gymnorhina tibicen towards humans: A comparison along an urban gradient. Australian Field Ornithology 23: 29-35.
Ross, G. A. 2004. Ibis in Urban Sydney: a Gift from Ra or a Pharaoh's Curse? Pp. 148-152 in Urban Wildlife: more than meets the eye, edited by D. Lunney and S. Burgin. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman, NSW.
Ryan, M. (Ed). 1995 Wildlife of Greater Brisbane. Queensland Museum, Brisbane.
Sewell, S.R. and Catterall, C.P. 1998. Bushland modification and styles of urban development: their effects on birds in south-east Queensland. Wildlife Research 25: 41-63.
Shaw, P.P. 2000. Australian White Ibis at South Bank, Brisbane Qld. Report to Brisbane City Council. Eco-Sure Environmental Consultants, Tugan, Qld
Shaw, P.P. and Murray, N. J. 2005. Australian White Ibis Management Program: Annual Report 2004/2005. Tweed - Gold Coast Region. Report to the Ibis Management Coordination Group. Eco-Sure Environmental Consultants, Tugan, Qld.
Vernon, D.P. 1968 Birds of Brisbane and Environs. Queensland Museum, Brisbane.
Veerman, P.A. 2003 Canberra Birds: A Report On The First 21 Years of Garden Bird Survey. Philip A. Veerman, Kambah, Canberra.
White, J.G., Antos, M.J., Fitzsimons, J.A., and Palmer, G.C. 2005. Non-uniform bird assemblages in urban environments: the influence of streetscape vegetation. Landscape and Urban Planning 71: 123-135.
Woodall, P. 1985. Waterbird populations in the Brisbane Region, 1972-83, and correlates with rainfall and water heights. Australian Wildlife Resources 12: 495-506.
Woodall, P. 1995. Results of the QOS Garden Bird Survey, 1979-80, With Particular Reference To South-East Queensland. Sunbird 25(1): 1-17.
Woodall, P. 2002. The Birds Queensland Garden Bird Survey, 1999-2000. Sunbird 32(2&3): 37-51.
Yencken, D. and Wilkinson, D. 2000 Resetting the compass: Australia's journey towards sustainability. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.
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Contents

Data & Figures

References

Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 2002. Queensland Climate. Commonwealth of Australia. http://www.bom.gov.au. (Accessed 21-10-2002).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2001. Australia now: population distribution. http://www.abs.gov.au. (Accessed 21-10-2002).
Bessinger, S.R. and Osborne, D.R. 1982. Effects of urbanization on avian community organization. Condor 84: 75-83.
Blair, R.B. 2001. Creating a homogeneous avifauna. Pp. 461-488 in Avian Ecology and Conservation of Birds in an Urbanizing World, edited by J.M Marzluff, R. Bowman, and R. Donnelly. Kluwer Academic, Norwell, MA.
Carrick, R. 1962. Breeding, movements, and conservation of ibises (Treskiornithidae) in Australia. CSIRO Wildlife Research 7: 71-88.
Catterall, C.P., Green, R.J. and Jones, D.N. 1991. Habitat use by birds across a forest-suburb interface in Brisbane: implications for corridors. Pp. 55-62 in Nature Conservation 2: The Role of Corridors, edited by D.A. Saunders and R.J. Hobbs. Surrey Beatty and Sons, Chipping Norton.
Chace, J.F., and Walsh, J.J. 2006. Urban effects on native avifauna: a review. Landscape and Urban Planning 74: 46-69.
Gosper, D.G., Briggs, S.V. and Carpenter, S.M. 1983. Waterbird Dynamics in the Richmond Valley, New South Wales, 1974-77. Australian Wildlife Resources 10: 319-327.
Green, B. and Jones, D.N. 2004. Living with wildlife: Australian White Ibis. Report to Brisbane City Council, Suburban Wildlife Research Group, Griffith University, Brisbane.
Filmer, I.G. 1938. The birds of Victoria Park, Brisbane. Queensland Naturalist 18(1), 34-39.
Fitzsimons, J.A., Palmer, G.C., Antos, M.J., and White, J.G. 2003. Refugees and residents: densities and habitat preferences of lorikeets in urban Melbourne. Australian Field Ornithology 20, 2-7.
IMCG Report. 1996. Working Towards A Natural Balance: A report into the findings of the Ibis Management Coordination Group's pilot program. Ibis Management Coordination Group. Gold Coast, Australia.
Jack, N. 1938. Ornithology of the Mt. Coot-tha Reserve, Taylor Range. Queensland Naturalist 10(6), 114-124.
Jones, D.N. 2003. Contemporary urban ecology: the view from the Antipodes. Pp. 745-753 in Ecosystems and Sustainable Development IV, Vol. 2. edited by E. Tiexxi, C.A. Brebbia and J.L. Usó. WIT Press, Southampton.
Jones, D.N., Enck, J.W., Siemer, W.F, Decker, D.J. and Brown, T.L. 1998. An introduction to human dimensions in wildlife management: Taking the North American experience to Australia. Human Dimensions Research Unit, Cornell University.
Jones, D.N. and Nealson, T. 2003. Ti Tree Waste management Facility Base-Line Study: Abundance and habitat Use of Significant Species. Report to Collex Pty Ltd, Suburban Wildlife Research Group, Griffith University, Brisbane.
Jones, D.N., Rhodes, M., Rollinson D. and Vogel, U. 2000 The presence of ibis, possums and brush-turkeys in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens. A Report to the BCC. Suburban Wildlife Research Group, Griffith University, Brisbane.
Low, T. 2002 The New Nature. Penguin, Sydney
Lowe, K. 1999. The dirt on Ibis. Nature Australia Autumn, 27-33.
Marchant, S. and Higgins, P.J. 1990 Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds: Volume 1 Ratites to Ducks. Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Marzluff, J.M. 2001. Worldwide urbanization and its effect on birds Pp. 19-47 in Avian Ecology and Conservation of Birds in an Urbanizing World, edited by J.M Marzluff, R. Bowman, and R. Donnelly. Kluwer Academic, Norwell, MA.
Marzluff, J.M., Bowman, R. and Donnelly, R. 2001. A historical perspective on urban bird research: trends, terms, and approaches. Pp. 1-17 in Avian Ecology and Conservation of Birds in an Urbanizing World, edited by J.M Marzluff, R. Bowman, and R. Donnelly. Kluwer Academic, Norwell, MA.
McKilligan, N.G. 1979. The Ecology of the Straw-necked Ibis In Winter at Toowoomba, South-east Queensland. Sunbird 10(3/4): 49-57.
Meyer-Gleaves S. 2003 Synanthropy of the Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca, in the greater Brisbane region. Honours Thesis, Griffith University, Brisbane.
Murray, N. J. and Shaw, P. P. 2006. Breeding biology of the Australian White Ibis Threskiorinis molucca at an urban breeding colony, south-east Queensland. Corella 30: 41-45.
Partecke, J., Schwabl, I. And Gwinner, E. 2006. Stress and the city: Urbanization and its effects on the stress physiology in European blackbirds. Ecology 87 1945-1952.
Perkins, D.L. 1974. Annual Bird Count, 1973, Queensland Ornithological Society. Sunbird 5(1): 1-9.
Rollinson, D. J. and Jones, D. N. 2006. Tolerance of Australian magpies Gymnorhina tibicen towards humans: A comparison along an urban gradient. Australian Field Ornithology 23: 29-35.
Ross, G. A. 2004. Ibis in Urban Sydney: a Gift from Ra or a Pharaoh's Curse? Pp. 148-152 in Urban Wildlife: more than meets the eye, edited by D. Lunney and S. Burgin. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman, NSW.
Ryan, M. (Ed). 1995 Wildlife of Greater Brisbane. Queensland Museum, Brisbane.
Sewell, S.R. and Catterall, C.P. 1998. Bushland modification and styles of urban development: their effects on birds in south-east Queensland. Wildlife Research 25: 41-63.
Shaw, P.P. 2000. Australian White Ibis at South Bank, Brisbane Qld. Report to Brisbane City Council. Eco-Sure Environmental Consultants, Tugan, Qld
Shaw, P.P. and Murray, N. J. 2005. Australian White Ibis Management Program: Annual Report 2004/2005. Tweed - Gold Coast Region. Report to the Ibis Management Coordination Group. Eco-Sure Environmental Consultants, Tugan, Qld.
Vernon, D.P. 1968 Birds of Brisbane and Environs. Queensland Museum, Brisbane.
Veerman, P.A. 2003 Canberra Birds: A Report On The First 21 Years of Garden Bird Survey. Philip A. Veerman, Kambah, Canberra.
White, J.G., Antos, M.J., Fitzsimons, J.A., and Palmer, G.C. 2005. Non-uniform bird assemblages in urban environments: the influence of streetscape vegetation. Landscape and Urban Planning 71: 123-135.
Woodall, P. 1985. Waterbird populations in the Brisbane Region, 1972-83, and correlates with rainfall and water heights. Australian Wildlife Resources 12: 495-506.
Woodall, P. 1995. Results of the QOS Garden Bird Survey, 1979-80, With Particular Reference To South-East Queensland. Sunbird 25(1): 1-17.
Woodall, P. 2002. The Birds Queensland Garden Bird Survey, 1999-2000. Sunbird 32(2&3): 37-51.
Yencken, D. and Wilkinson, D. 2000 Resetting the compass: Australia's journey towards sustainability. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.
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