Rhonda Reinke, age 8, of Tacoma, Wash., for her question:

WHAT IS AN IBIS?

The Sacred Ibis (one of the 28 species of heron like, water loving birds in the ibis and spoonbill family) was once venerated by man. In ancient Egypt, this dramatic bird stood next to the pharaohs.  These fine birds have short tails, stand about two and a half feet tall, have toes that are partially webbed and  webbed and can be found in most of the tropical regions of the world. The ibis has a curved, slender bill and often a naked head while his close relative, the spoonbill, has a spatula shaped bill  and feathers on top.