Sacred Ibis - Threskiornis aethiopicus
I thought a typical Manyara shot might be nice for a change - a small number of skittish Zebra, Yellow-billed stork and then the Sacred Ibis working through the grass feeding on insects or worms.
The ancient egyptians worshiped these birds as symbols of one of their god's Hoth and even mummified them for burial. I can remembber seeing Ibis marking in the hyrogliphics on the columns at the temple site at Karnac. I think the egyptians were close to their wetland birds. Hunting ducks and pigeons on punts with throwing sticks and bows and arrows. They are apparently doing well these days spreading around the globe out of their African/Middle Eastern heartland.
At the end of the same game dive we came across a large group of elephants and learnt about their ear waggling agressive displays. I am not sure if I could tell when they are for show and when they are about to charge.
Lake Manyara, Tanzania
July 2012
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