Request for Spoonbills and Sacred, Glossy & Hadeda Ibis specimens

In winter, when she's not investigating the vulnerability of arid-land birds to climate change, Dr Susan Cunningham continues her research on the sensory systems of probe-foraging birds. Part of this research entails examining the bill structure of birds from three widely separated families, the Apterygidae, Threskiornithidae and Scolopacidae. Specimens can be thin on the ground so if you find a dead Spoonbill or Sacred, Glossy or Hadeda Ibis please contact her and she will collect it. Alternatively, if you're in a position to collect it yourself and bring it in, that would be greatly appreciated (Please use gloves and avoid contact with any blood or faecal matter as birds may be contaminated with avian influenza and/or other pathogens).

Please note: If you do pick up a bird and can't get it to UCT straight away, please DON'T freeze it as this damages the tissues at a microscopic level. Rather contact Susie and she will come and collect the bird provided the distance is not too great.

Contact details:

Dr Susie Cunningham can be contacted at 021 650 5932 or susan.cunningham@uct.ac.za.

Find out more about Susie Cunningham and her research.