A SACRED IBIS spotted in Guernsey could threaten island birdlife. The black-beaked wading bird was seen in Vale recently and is presumed to be from a colony of ibises in Brittany.

‘These birds came from a zoo where they were allowed to fly free in the mid-nineties,’ said conservation officer for La Societe Guernesiaise Jamie Hooper.

‘They were soon found to be breeding in the wild and, having spread to nearby wetlands, their population has quickly grown to 450 breeding pairs.

‘As a non-native species, they do not belong in the wild in Western Europe – their natural range is in sub-Saharan Africa.’

Mr Hooper thinks it is likely sightings of the birds will become more frequent in the island, but is not sure whether they would stay to breed.

‘If they breed, there needs to be a regular food supply for them – but I am not sure what that would be yet.

‘It could be some of the smaller birds we have on the island, or maybe even nesting gulls.

‘I doubt they would stay here to breed, because herons don’t and we would expect them to, but who knows.’

The impact the sacred ibis has on the European environment has already been seen in Brittany.

‘Birds have recently been observed predating eggs and nestlings in some of Brittany’s important tern colonies.

‘They have been known to nearly wipe out the complete colony and cause desertion of the remaining nesters.’

This is the second time in three years the bird has been spotted here.

In France, the authorities are examining all options of control.

If you sight an ibis you can report it to the Guernsey Biological Record Centre on 715799.