9 thoughts on “Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus)”
Given my observations and monitoring of this species (with colleagues) in multiple locations over multiple years, I agree with the proposed shift to Least Concern.
In the section “Type of proposed change”, the accurate wording to use us not “Incorrect data used previously”, but “Incorrect assumptions used by status coordinator leading to wrong understanding of population trends”.
Another paper that is of relevance that shows the importance of agricultural areas for the species to use throughout the year:
Sundar, K. S. G. 2009. Flock Size, Density and Habitat Selection of Four Large Waterbirds Species in an Agricultural Landscape in Uttar Pradesh, India: Implications for Management. Waterbirds, 29, 365-374
DOI:10.1675/1524-4695(2006)29[365:FSDAHS]2.0.CO;2.
A robust population estimate of the species will be published shortly, and that can be used to update information in future iterations of the Red List status for this species. To help you with filling out all of the tables that a status assessment needs, the total population estimate is in excess of 4,00,000 for South Asia.
Please share the information source that suggests that 20-30% of the population are immatures. The proportion of immatures varies greatly from location to location, and season to season. So, unless the source has provided a careful and thoughtful estimation, these numbers should not be used. It is ok to say we do not currently know so workers can focus on aspects that require work.
To address the first question you have listed: no – there have not been any sign that the species was declining at any time in the 80s or 90s. On the contrary, observations on farmlands are showing that the increasing irrigation canal network across South Asia is benefitting the species. Several locations have recoded new or increased numbers of this species due to new canals.
Changes in rainfall patterns are occurring, but have not changed local populations in the seven landscapes where robust field data is available. Nests do decline in dry years, but increase again in years with normal or above-normal years. This suggests that the species moves locally to accommodate changes in rainfall patterns in specific locations.
Very good to note that BirdLife has taken on board the learning scientists working in South Asia that agriculture is not always bad for all waterbird species everywhere. This change in learning at BirdLife will help improve the Red List status for many species.
From Myanmar perspective, which is not really listed in this species overview I can confirm that the species has been stable across all habitats and locations.
However, I am surprised to see the breeding range now extended across the range. I was always of the impression that the species is not breeding in Myanmar or elsewhere in most places in SE Asia and migratory from India, but maybe that has changed for some parts in SE Asia but not for Myanmar where the species is mostly confined to coastal wetlands numbering around a 1,000 to 1,500 birds (Zöckler et al 2014, Moses & Zöckler 2016) and a few sites along the Ayeyarwady River but missing in most inland wetlands. Regular counts from the Ayeywarwady Delta and Gulf of Mottama show fluctuating numbers but stable over the years. I think a downlisting to LC is justified.
Zöckler, C., T. Zaw Naing, S. Moses, R. Nou Soe & T. Htin Hla (2014): The importance of the Myanmar Coast for Water Birds. Stilt 66: 37-51.
Once very rare in Assam with no records even from Kaziranga and Pobitora, it is now a familiar birds of major wetlands with regular sightings in these two protected areas as well. Such drastic change took place during the past one and half decade. Its down-listing is agreeable.
In north India specially observed & recorded in National Capital Region of Delhi and surrounding states – Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana increasing number of Black-headed Ibis on the wetlands, marshlands, swamps, floodplains during past several years as well new breeding sites with higher population but during last two years observed much lesser number of Ibis due to drying wetland areas and even lesser breeding. i.e. down-listing the species population may update Red List status
The distribution range is extending to a larger areas and the population is increasing in Southern India. But breeding in a few traditional nesting sites are not pronounced. It can be down listed to least Concern .
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 3 May 2024. We will now analyse and interpret all information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 3 May 2024, when discussions will re-open.
Thanks to all contributors for their comments to this discussion, particularly G. Sundar for providing the unpublished estimation of >400,000 birds in South Asia, which has now been incorporated. Note that the wording of the proposed change “Incorrect data used previously” is a standard IUCN category, in which a change of this nature must be placed. While it is perhaps true that the species was declining in the 1980s and 1990s in South Asia, it must be considered that this is probably not true in South-East Asia, and so at this time it is thought likely the species was globally declining, but probably only slowly given the high proportion of birds in South Asia – the text in the draft account in SIS has been revised to reflect this more clearly. Thanks also to Praveen J, for providing additional references that support the fact the population is not declining – these have been incorporated. Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2024 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 13 May 2024, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2024 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2024, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Agree with Gopi. This species is also now a common sight in many urban wetlands in Indian cities such as Pune, Bhopal and Bangalore, which span a broad part of the country.
Given my observations and monitoring of this species (with colleagues) in multiple locations over multiple years, I agree with the proposed shift to Least Concern.
In the section “Type of proposed change”, the accurate wording to use us not “Incorrect data used previously”, but “Incorrect assumptions used by status coordinator leading to wrong understanding of population trends”.
Another paper that is of relevance that shows the importance of agricultural areas for the species to use throughout the year:
Sundar, K. S. G. 2009. Flock Size, Density and Habitat Selection of Four Large Waterbirds Species in an Agricultural Landscape in Uttar Pradesh, India: Implications for Management. Waterbirds, 29, 365-374
DOI:10.1675/1524-4695(2006)29[365:FSDAHS]2.0.CO;2.
A robust population estimate of the species will be published shortly, and that can be used to update information in future iterations of the Red List status for this species. To help you with filling out all of the tables that a status assessment needs, the total population estimate is in excess of 4,00,000 for South Asia.
Please share the information source that suggests that 20-30% of the population are immatures. The proportion of immatures varies greatly from location to location, and season to season. So, unless the source has provided a careful and thoughtful estimation, these numbers should not be used. It is ok to say we do not currently know so workers can focus on aspects that require work.
To address the first question you have listed: no – there have not been any sign that the species was declining at any time in the 80s or 90s. On the contrary, observations on farmlands are showing that the increasing irrigation canal network across South Asia is benefitting the species. Several locations have recoded new or increased numbers of this species due to new canals.
Changes in rainfall patterns are occurring, but have not changed local populations in the seven landscapes where robust field data is available. Nests do decline in dry years, but increase again in years with normal or above-normal years. This suggests that the species moves locally to accommodate changes in rainfall patterns in specific locations.
Very good to note that BirdLife has taken on board the learning scientists working in South Asia that agriculture is not always bad for all waterbird species everywhere. This change in learning at BirdLife will help improve the Red List status for many species.
From Myanmar perspective, which is not really listed in this species overview I can confirm that the species has been stable across all habitats and locations.
However, I am surprised to see the breeding range now extended across the range. I was always of the impression that the species is not breeding in Myanmar or elsewhere in most places in SE Asia and migratory from India, but maybe that has changed for some parts in SE Asia but not for Myanmar where the species is mostly confined to coastal wetlands numbering around a 1,000 to 1,500 birds (Zöckler et al 2014, Moses & Zöckler 2016) and a few sites along the Ayeyarwady River but missing in most inland wetlands. Regular counts from the Ayeywarwady Delta and Gulf of Mottama show fluctuating numbers but stable over the years. I think a downlisting to LC is justified.
Zöckler, C., T. Zaw Naing, S. Moses, R. Nou Soe & T. Htin Hla (2014): The importance of the Myanmar Coast for Water Birds. Stilt 66: 37-51.
Moses & Zöckler (2016) unpublished Rep for FFI
Once very rare in Assam with no records even from Kaziranga and Pobitora, it is now a familiar birds of major wetlands with regular sightings in these two protected areas as well. Such drastic change took place during the past one and half decade. Its down-listing is agreeable.
In north India specially observed & recorded in National Capital Region of Delhi and surrounding states – Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana increasing number of Black-headed Ibis on the wetlands, marshlands, swamps, floodplains during past several years as well new breeding sites with higher population but during last two years observed much lesser number of Ibis due to drying wetland areas and even lesser breeding. i.e. down-listing the species population may update Red List status
Providing additional references where a positive population trend has been detected over longer term monitoring.
In Kerala, from nearly absent (1993) to a few 100s and sometimes 1,000s by 2014.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274067057_Long_term_Population_Trends_of_Waterbirds_in_Kerala_over_three_Decades
Extended data for one Ramsar wetland (Vembanad) till 2023. Page 53
https://stateofindiasbirds.in/wp-content/uploads/SoIB-2023_report.pdf
The distribution range is extending to a larger areas and the population is increasing in Southern India. But breeding in a few traditional nesting sites are not pronounced. It can be down listed to least Concern .
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 3 May 2024. We will now analyse and interpret all information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 3 May 2024, when discussions will re-open.
Preliminary proposal
Thanks to all contributors for their comments to this discussion, particularly G. Sundar for providing the unpublished estimation of >400,000 birds in South Asia, which has now been incorporated. Note that the wording of the proposed change “Incorrect data used previously” is a standard IUCN category, in which a change of this nature must be placed. While it is perhaps true that the species was declining in the 1980s and 1990s in South Asia, it must be considered that this is probably not true in South-East Asia, and so at this time it is thought likely the species was globally declining, but probably only slowly given the high proportion of birds in South Asia – the text in the draft account in SIS has been revised to reflect this more clearly. Thanks also to Praveen J, for providing additional references that support the fact the population is not declining – these have been incorporated. Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2024 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 13 May 2024, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2024 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2024, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Agree with Gopi. This species is also now a common sight in many urban wetlands in Indian cities such as Pune, Bhopal and Bangalore, which span a broad part of the country.