None of the diverse clan of ibises is going to take home a beauty contest trophy--not once the judges get a good look at the heads. The Northern bald ibis is no exception.

To be honest, I have yet to come across an attractive bald bird. Birds, even the head, are meant to be feathered. So I'm not disparaging the Northern bald ibis. Not by any means. In fact, I'd like to see more of them. They're teetering on the verge of extinction in their native Mediterranean, African, and Middle Eastern lands. It's only due to captive breeding programs and conservation efforts that these birds stand a chance.

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Photos by Zoë Power





-- Edited by Dj Quiva on Friday 1st of May 2009 02:33:10 PM