Breeding of the Australian white Ibis Threskiornis molucca in the urban environment

The Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca has increased dramatically in the urban environment since the 1970s and requires management. Currently information on its breeding, a prerequisite for appropriate management, is scarce. We studied the reproduction of Australian White Ibises at two urban sites in the wider Sydney area over an entire year. In comparison to non-urban ibises, urban ibises had a longer breeding period, smaller egg volumes and clutch sizes, but a larger range in clutch sizes. The growth rate of ibis chicks is also described. Urban ibises also had a lower hatching success, but a higher mean number of fledglings/clutch and a higher reproductive success