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Dependent Australian White Ibis being fedAlternate name(s): "Black-necked Ibis", "Sickle-bird"; formerly "Sacred Ibis" Size: 65-75 cm Weight: 1.7-2.5 kg (male), 1.4-1.9 kg (female) |
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White Ibis main page .
The sequence of photos below illustrates how a dependent (juvenile) Australian White Ibis begged for food and was then fed by one of its parents.
First the young bird adopted what looked like a submissive posture
and noisily begged for food
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2012]
Then the young bird started tapping the adult's bill with its bill...
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2012]
... before inserting its own bill into the adult bird's
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2012]
Next one could see the regurgitated load being transferred
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2012]
This is the end of the transfer and the bills were then disengaged
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2012]