A portrait of the Asian Crested Ibis
Despite being beautiful birds who play an important part in our ecosystem, in Australia the Ibis is often regarded as a nuisance. In stark contrast, my mother always described these birds as lovely and graceful and remarked how differently their asian counterparts are viewed in Korea and Asia.
The crested Ibis is an example of the diversity of these birds who showcases a beautiful bright red visage and white plumage. Though they suffer from dwindling numbers and faced extinction in many parts of Asia, conservation efforts have attempted to revitalize populations.
I painted this subject in celebration of recent conservation efforts in South Korea which saw the first documented chicks born in the wilds of South Korea in more than 4 decades.