Japanese city names wild-born ibis chicks

TOKYO, May 24 (UPI) -- A pair of officials in a Japanese city dressed as ibis chicks to celebrate the naming of the first Japanese crested ibis chicks born in the wild in 36 years.

The Sado officials dressed as chicks for a Wednesday ceremony and presented birth certificates for the eight ibis chicks, which were born to three mated pairs of birds, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Thursday.

The local government opened naming to submissions May 11 and officials said the names they have settled on are Mirai, Yume, Kibo, Kizuna, Gin, Kiseki, Sora and Miu.

The name will be individually assigned when the chicks are tagged, officials said.

The officials presented the birth certificates to Sado Mayor Motonari Kai, who responded by giving them "health pocketbooks" for the chicks.