During the recent Covid-19 lockdown an African sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) visited the pond near Geschinen, a rather rare spotting of such a bird in Switzerland. It is believed that the birds escaped a zoological garden in France in 1984 where they were kept as free-flying group. They settled down in several colonies and also breed in the Po plaine from where this Ibis might originate. It is considered as a neozoon and thus a rather unwanted species as it invades local habitats.
Nevertheless it is spectacular to see how he forages around in thge marshy areas, largely undisturbed from nearby walkers, joggers, cars and trains.
And these are the ponds at «Lake Geschinen» where the frogs have to be very careful.
© 2020