Ibis are a type of wading bird found in warm regions around the world. They have long, curved beaks which they use to probe the mud for food like insects, crustaceans and small fish. Ibis are a common sight along coastlines, wetlands and in cities across the southern United States, Central America, parts of South America, Africa, Southern Europe, the Middle East, India, and Australia.
When hurricanesapproach, many birds sense the drop in barometric pressure and shift in wind patterns. They may adjust their behavior and leave the area to avoid the storm. However, ibises and other wading birds face some unique challenges when hurricanes hit. Let’s look at how ibises respond before, during and after major storms.
Do Ibises Leave Before a Hurricane?
Ibises do not always flee from oncoming hurricanes. Their tendency to leave depends on the species and other factors. For example, the endangered White Ibis found in coastal southeastern states will often ride out hurricanes rather than leaving. Researchers believe this may be because the White Ibis stays relatively close to breeding sites year-round. Abandoning their habitat could make it harder to re-establish nesting areas afterwards. White Ibises may also be reluctant to travel too far inland out of their natural habitat.
Other ibis species that are migratory, like the Scarlet Ibis, may already be traveling to new habitat at certain times of year. Their migration patterns can coincidentally move them out of harm’s way. Glossy and White-faced ibises that nest further inland may be better able to find shelter from coastal storms as well. Ibises linked to freshwater wetlands rather than saltwater coasts also face lower risk from storm surge flooding.
Challenges for Ibises During Hurricanes
For ibises that do experience a hurricane, the main dangers are:
- Strong winds – Can blow birds off course or prevent them from foraging/resting
- Heavy rain and flooding – Can flood nesting areas and wetlands
- Storm surge – Can temporarily alter or destroy coastal habitat
- Lack of insect prey – Hurricanes may decimate local insect populations that ibises rely on
- Pollution and debris – Stormwaters can contaminate wetlands with chemicals, oils and litter
Ibises seek shelter in thick trees and shrubs when winds reach 40-50 mph. They will also stop foraging once winds prevent them from hunting effectively. During the immediate onslaught of a hurricane, ibises mainly focus on conserving energy and trying to avoid wind-borne debris.
The loss of wetland habitat and food sources in the aftermath pose longer term threats. Ibises may struggle if their habitat is severely altered by flooding, erosion of land formations, and salination of freshwater areas. Their specialized beaks designed for probing mud make it hard to quickly adapt to changes. Competition also increases if many waterbirds are forced into smaller usable areas.
Do Ibises Return After a Hurricane?
In most cases, ibises will return to their former habitat after storm conditions subside. Their homing ability and site fidelity lead them back to even heavily damaged nesting areas. Ibis populations may decline in the few years following a major hurricane. But their numbers typically rebound again as wetlands recover over time.
Some reasons ibises return after hurricanes:
- Strong navigation abilities – Ibises can find their way over long distances
- Site fidelity – They are attached to established feeding and breeding grounds
- Generalist diet – They can adapt to shifts in prey availability
- Experience with seasonal floods – Ibises are used to some habitat disruption
- Resilient populations – High annual reproductive rates help offset losses
Banded birds have proven that the same ibis individuals will go back to nest in their former colony sites even if vegetation was stripped. However, complete destruction of habitat or urban development can prevent ibises from re-establishing in some areas after storms.
Do Ibises Have Special Adaptations to Survive Hurricanes?
Ibises lack any special physical or behavioral adaptations specifically for hurricanes. However, they do have traits that help them endure hurricane impacts:
Strong Flight Abilities
Ibises are strong flyers capable of long migrations and dispersal flights as needed. If they do flee incoming storms, most species can travel 500 km or more to find shelter. Their powerful wingbeats allow them to push through heavy rains and headwinds during a storm.
Experience With Extreme Weather
Ibises endure regular storms, downpours, floods and heat waves in their tropical and wetland habitats. So they have some resilience to unstable conditions. Their wide geographical ranges also mean populations outside the hurricane zone can help replenish losses.
Generalist Foraging
Most ibises aren’t dependent on one specific food source. They can switch between insects, crabs, fish, frogs, lizards and other aquatic prey. This flexibility helps them get by when certain prey items are wiped out by storms.
Colonial Nesting
Nesting in large groups may improve survival odds for some ibis young. Colonial nest sites offer slightly more protection from elements than solitary nests. Social behavior cues may also help signal danger and facilitate quicker evacuation from the nest when flooding hits.
Unique Ibis Behaviors and Traits
Beyond their hurricane resilience, ibises have some other interesting features:
Curved Beak for Probing
Ibises have a long, down-curved bill ideal for probing soft mud and capturing hidden prey. The curve allows them to keep more of their head and neck out of water when feeding in wetlands.
Distinctive Plumage
Breeding ibises grow long ornamental feathers for courtship displays. These include elongated neck plumes, shoulder plumes and crest feathers. Their white, pink, scarlet or iridescent black breeding colors are also very striking.
“Pumping” Feeding Motion
Ibises walk steadily through mudflats or shallow water with a slow, rhythmic gait. They probe their bills downward and open and close them rapidly to stir up and capture food items. This “pumping” behavior creates their characteristic feeding style.
Synced Migration Flocks
Some ibis species like White Ibises migrate in massive flocks that all move and change direction together. These large groups may serve to swamp predators and help the ibises navigate longer distances.
Social Colonies
Breeding ibises nest together communally, often with other wading bird species. Their colonies can include hundreds to thousands of nesting pairs over a wide area. These social groups probably help deter predators.
Adaptable Habitat Use
Ibises use a variety of aquatic habitats including freshwater marshes, estuaries, mangrove swamps, ditches, and flooded fields. They forage in both open and vegetated wetlands which provides more flexibility.
Omnivorous Diet
Ibises consume a wide range of prey including insects, shrimp, crayfish, crabs, snails, frogs, fish, reptiles and small rodents. This dietary flexibility allows them to shift food sources based on seasonal availability.
Key Facts About Ibises
Taxonomy
- Family: Threskiornithidae
- Genus: Eudocimus, Plegadis, Theristicus, etc.
- Species: Scarlet Ibis, Glossy Ibis, White Ibis, etc.
- Closest relatives: spoonbills
Habitat
- Coastal wetlands, inland marshes, swamps, mudflats, rice fields
- Nest in trees, bushes, reed beds, often in colonies
- Forage while wading through shallow water
Size and Appearance
- Small-medium sized wading birds
- Long legs, long neck, long down-curved bill
- Colorful plumage during breeding
- Sharply pointed wings in flight
Global Range
- Native to warmer regions around the world
- Found on every continent except Antarctica
- Some species highly migratory, others more stationary
Diet
- Omnivorous – eat insects, crustaceans, fish, amphibians, reptiles
- Probe bill into soft mud or water to capture prey
- Also pick food items off of vegetation or ground
Behavior
- Gregarious; often feed and nest in large flocks
- Mostly quiet, but make some croaking or grunting sounds
- Build basic platform nests in trees, bushes or reeds
- Both parents share incubation and feeding of young
Population Status
- Some species threatened by habitat loss and degradation
- White Ibis, Scarlet Ibis designated as Near Threatened
- Madagascar, Giant, and Dwarf Olive ibises endangered
- Many other species still common and widespread
Conclusion
Ibises are resourceful wading birds with several adaptations that allow them to endure major storms like hurricanes. Most ibises do not migrate away ahead of hurricanes. They seek shelter where they can and wait for storms to pass over. Their probing feeding method makes them dependent on the wetland ecosystems prone to hurricane impacts. But ibises are resilient enough return to their breeding and foraging grounds even after severe habitat damage from flooding and winds. Their flexible diets and ability to cover long distances to find food help ibises survive the aftermath and regain their former population levels. With their striking plumage and rhythmic social behaviors, ibises remain a characteristic sight along shorelines from the Gulf Coast to the tropics and beyond.