The Nordic Ark, July 12th 2008. Part Sixteen

Along the side of the reptile house there is a bird enclosure. This houses some rather strange-looking birds, Northern Bald Ibis/Hermit Ibis (Geronticus eremita). These animals, which despite the name live in colonies, are acutely endangered, with only two populations remaining in the wild. :-( The Ark has a whole little flock of them. At first we thought there were only a few, but as we kept looking into the enclosure we noticed more and more of them. :-) They seemed content as they relaxed in the hot sun in their enclosure. Some of them had taken shelter in the shade.

Not very pretty birds, but striking, with their black feathers and long, reddish orange beaks.

(Photo credit: Top, bottom: KAS; middle: me)