Gold Coast M1 ibis colony: Fate revealed by Transport Minister Mark Bailey

The fate of a controversial flock of ibis which were causing significant traffic disruption on the M1 has been revealed after several were found dead.

The fate of a controversial flock of ibis, which were causing significant traffic disruption on the M1, has been revealed after several were found dead.

The state government says it has successfully evicted the birds from a Yatala site near Exit 38 which has been fenced off for more than five months.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said licenced ecologists had removed eggs and cleared vegetation to discourage the ibis from nesting next to the M1.

TMR installed birdproof fences around the Exit 38 interchange on the M1 to deter the ibis. Picture Glenn Hampson

“The latest monitoring shows a significant reduction in ibis numbers at the Yatala site as a result of the management plan implemented by TMR,” he said.

“Vegetation clearing established a buffer zone to the motorway and discouraged their roosting, which was creating a road safety issue when the big birds weren’t able to fly high enough over the thousands of passing vehicles.

“The three-metre-high barriers were a temporary measure to prevent the ibis from flying into traffic, and now that the colony has reduced, the barriers will be removed.

“Managing this ibis colony moving on has been a balancing act between the safety of motorists and protecting a native bird, and I’m pleased to see the hard work to address it has been done sympathetically and successfully.”

Many ibis were hit and killed by vehicles Picture Glenn Hampson

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