[Art] Australian White Ibis and Australian Magpie as Totems.

[moonvoice]

Woot, artwork!
These are all commissions, so if you're interested in something similar
you can check out commission information here.
Arabian leopard and rough collie will come later today.
Thinking about letting the cats outside for some supervised play today.
Huzzah!


Australian White Ibis as Totem
prints available here





TOTEM MEANINGS – Wanted or Unwanted?

Trash and treasure, a connection to Thoth and the sacred ibis, harsh truths, wanted or unwanted?, paradox, deciding what is valuable and invaluable, probing your current situation for wisdom or more nourishment, a connection to the moon and night, unintentionally repelling others from your side, finding preciousness in what others discard, a connection to water and wetlands energy, water wights and deities, becoming increasingly bold and gregarious with time.

Description

The Australian white ibis (dump chook, tip turkey, sheep-bird, Mardungurra (Yindjibarndi), sacred ibis) is a wading waterbird found across a lot of Australia. They prefer to live in open grassland, marshland, farmland, wetlands and frequent parks and rubbish dumps. They have become increasingly common in urban areas, especially in the Eastern states. They have a bald head and neck. The plumage is white, but can become stained. They have a distinct unpleasant, distinct, foul odour. They are sexually mature at three years, and can live for up to 28 years. They form V-shaped flocks when flying in groups.

They call by emitting long, drawn-out croaks. They nest in trees near bodies of water, and often nest near other waterbirds like egrets, herons, cormorants and spoonbills. They primarily feed on crayfish, mussels (which they open by striking on a hard surface), fish, frogs, other aquatic creatures, insects and garbage. Despite disappearing in natural breeding areas, they have been culled in some areas due to their smell and intrusive nature. Recent debates have begun over whether the Australian white ibis is a pest because of its encroachment on public spaces, or if it is Endangered because it no longer breeds in many of its traditional areas. Australian white ibises that have become very habituated to humans will actually snatch food from people.











Australian Magpie as Totem
prints available here





Read the full totem essay of Australian Magpie as totem here at Wildspeak

Comments

[outlineofash]

Ibis as Totem is so, so gorgeous. I love the scattering of stars among the spirals.

[moonvoice]

Thank you so much! :D

[silverjackal]

While the magpie colouration is glorious (I really like the combination of garnet and green, though I wouldn't have guessed that would appeal to me previously if asked!) I am completely taken with the Ibis. I love the gloss, the look in its' eye, and the stars shining in the sky. The energy spiral also whispers of the Bennu bird (the Egyptian equivalent of the Phoenix, though the original species is lamentably extinct).

Edited to add: This is completely unrelated, but I thought you might find it interesting. Look at the startling transformation some sable GSD pups go through. Heh. I frankly find the orange puppy phase unappealing, and then baboom! Attractive adult dog! :D

[moonvoice]

It was interesting, as I did research for Australian White Ibis as totem, I discovered that they are considered the 'sister bird' of the Sacred Ibis and that, before they were identified as genetically distinct from the Sacred Ibis, they were also referred to as the 'Sacred Ibis.' Things I didn't know! They are very, very similar in appearance.

Also, that's an amazing transformation! It reminds me of some of the radical transformations that lappies go through in coat colour, many sites I looked at said that lappies have some of the most radical shifts with time - especially sables (or dominoes, as they're called), I think?

[white_rabbit]

Definitely still in love with Australian White Ibis. :) So I will just be here, drawing little hearts in the air. <3

[moonvoice]

Hee! That's such a cute image!

[paleo]

Magpie's color choices surprised me but they are so lovely and for some reason seem to radiate a sort of healing energy. I don't think you've ever done clouds in your totem art before, but I think they work so well with Ibis.

[moonvoice]

I think if you met them in person it might be a bit less surprising? They have really bold qualities contrasted with really healing, familial, loving qualities, and observing them in the world, or hearing their carolling morning song is quite something else! :D

[tree]

magpie is beautiful. i'm glad you chose strong colours for that one. i don't know why, they just seem to fit.

[moonvoice]

I'm so glad! I knew that magpie wanted red, but the contrasting green surprised me at first, but it fits now and I'm really happy with the colour choices!

[avia]

Really love the background of the ibis. It feels like flying in a fantasy sky, the magic of day and night and sunset all mixed.

I have love of Ibis too, because Thoth is one of my beloved gods~

[moonvoice]

Eee, thank you so much! <3 I love that idea of flying in a fantasy sky.

[azhure]

I just don't have enough words for how amazing these are. *squish*

[moonvoice]

I can't WAIT for you to hold them in person!

[ariestess]

These are gorgeous. I've never been drawn to any of the Ibis varieties before, but this one really gets to me. There's a sense of hidden knowledge there...

[moonvoice]

They definitely have a lot of hidden knowledge behind their beady eyes. :)

[ariestess]

That they do!

[kath_ballantyne]

I love these.
I love the clouds. They are gorgeous.

The magpie is fantastic. I do love them.

[moonvoice]

Thank you so much! <3