The Hadeda Ibis has become an enigma throughout most of Southern Africa. Looking at the current range, it is found throughtout the whole of South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and nothern Botswana. But looking back 75 years, the range was far more restricted.

Traditionally the Hadeda Ibis was absent from most of the highveld, karoo, Free State and parts of the Nortern Cape. So why did they expand? Having heard many theories including the arrival of the famous Parktown Prawn in Gauteng as food for the Hadeda. Of course this alone is not enough to cause their range expansion and the reason for their regular occurence in Gauteng is far more complex.

Originally Hadeda Ibis was limited to KZN and the coastal areas of the Eastern Cape. The change of habitat by humans has lead to this expansion. Hadedas need two main things. Short grassy areas to feed on and trees for nesting. The increase of grassy pavements, trees in previously treeless areas and farmlands that offer suitable feeding areas has resulted in may corridors of expansion opening in all directions. As a result, the Hadeda has gone from a KZN and Eastern Cape bird to being widely spread and common throughout the entire sub-region. The range expansion is a staggering 250% from around 590 000 square kilometers to almost 1.4 million!!!

The effects of humans on bird distribution is vastly complex. Whilst we now have the commical and enigmatic Hadeda more wideley spread in our region, only a detailed study would give an inditation of what species have been pushed out due to our changing of habitats.