They appear to be black when viewed at a distance, but when the sunlight hits them at a particular angle their iridescent, multicoloured feathers sparkle!

Regularly seen around the Weddin Shire in groups of around twenty, on farm paddocks and the football and soccer fields, Straw Necked Ibises feed on locusts, spiders, crickets, crustaceans, fish, frogs, small reptiles and mice.

The juvenile birds are in turn the diet of raptors, ravens, crows, foxes, domestic/feral dogs and cats and feral pigs.

These lovely and unusual-looking birds mating dance is like an old-time Pride of Erin, with much formal bowing and scraping.

With wings slightly open and their straw-like neck feathers raised, they bow to one another and then preen one another.

After mating, the male brings her sticks and presents them with a bow and she uses them to build their nest.

They feed the chicks together and bow to one other, as well as their offspring before feeding them.

Apart from being gorgeous to look at, these are obviously very polite and well-mannered birds!