The Ibis Management Coordination Group (IMCG) met at Brisbane Airport on the 10 March 2026 to celebrate 30 years of operation. Attendees included local Councils, airports, wildlife sanctuaries, research groups, consultants, and past contributors to the IMCG. The day started with Tom Ashover (Airside Quality & Wildlife Manager, Brisbane Airport) taking stakeholders on a bird management related airside tour of Brisbane Airport. Phil Shaw (Founding Director, Ecosure) then reflected on the formation of the IMCG and shared some of our stories and achievements. This was followed by Heather McGinness (Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO) presenting on bird movements and how satellite-tracking of waterbirds (including ibis) can be used to inform management. To sum up, Jeff McKee (Director Research & Development, Ecosure) spoke to the group about looking forward to why the IMCG is still relevant and important for future ibis management. 

Phil Shaw said, “The aim of the IMCG was for key stakeholders to collaborate and work together to find innovative ethical solutions to managing this human wildlife conflict. The IMCG is unique. As far as I know there is no other group in the world that is focused on a wildlife management program of this style that’s been going for 30 years. It’s a real compliment to the stakeholders that have put so much energy, time and passion into maintaining the IMCG during this time.”

The IMCG was established on the Gold Coast after an Australian white ibis (Threskiornis molucca) was ingested into a Qantas Airbus engine in December 1995. Since 1996, Ecosure has been working with the IMCG to coordinate management of this native species from the NSW border extending up to the Sunshine Coast. The wellbeing of the ibis population continues to be the IMCGs priority, but with ongoing human wildlife conflict occurring, the IMCG remains well placed to identify threats and solutions when it comes to ibis in urban areas. Regular and robust monitoring helps to maintain the delicate balance between the long-term survival of the species and effective mitigation of the negative impacts that can be associated with urban ibis. 

As facilitators of the IMCG, Ecosure’s role is to organise the meetings, oversee the collection of data from all ibis management sites and provide reports to stakeholders. The IMCG meets three times a year to share knowledge and discuss ways to continually improve management outcomes. Ecosure is grateful to the commitment and motivation of our stakeholders, which has enabled the momentum of the IMCG to still be successfully operating after 30 years. It was great to meet and celebrate our achievements together.  Thank you to everyone that is or has been involved.

Published 30/03/26