SCIENTISTS HELPS NEARLY EXTINCT BIRDS MIGRATE BY ALSO TAKING FLIGHT
Scientists in Austria are using ultralight aircraft to take to the skies to teach almost extinct birds how to migrate. The Waldrappteam's conservationists started guiding 36 northern bald ibises, also known as Waldrapp, from Austria to Spain through the clouds in August 2024. They have assisted ibis in migrating for the 17th time, and this 1,740-mile trip could take up to 50 days. The two foster parents of the birds, Helena Wehner and Barbara Steininger, are among the flying researchers. They encourage the ibises to continue by waving and calling out to them in midair.
Flying with birds that have been raised by hand is like being welcomed into the world of birds. Foster mother Helena Wehner tells My Modern Met, "What fascinates me the most is the social interaction between us foster moms and the birds up in the air when we greet them and they slightly turn their head and then greet back to us."
Diva, Voldemort, Aragog, Grindelwald, Uno, Fluffy, and Genti—the first to fledge, or fly—are among the brood of this year.
With its remarkable red head and curved beak, the striking northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita) was formerly found in the Arabian Peninsula, much of Europe, and North Africa. However, they have been virtually extinct in central Europe for the past few centuries and are only found in zoos and a few colonies outside of the continent. The Waldrappteam's terrestrial and aerial endeavours have resulted in the species' classification being shifted from critically endangered to endangered.
The number of northern bald ibises in Central Europe has successfully increased to nearly 300 in recent decades thanks to breeding efforts. Nevertheless, the birds were unable to locate appropriate wintering grounds and perished because they had no wild ancestors to teach them migratory routes. Motivated by the work of "Father Goose" Bill Lishman, who trained Canada geese to migrate in the 1980s and served as the inspiration for the movie Fly Away Home, Waldrappteam biologist Johannes Fritz decided to attempt to guide the migration.
Thanks to successful breeding efforts, the population of northern bald ibises in Central Europe has successfully increased to nearly 300 in recent decades. However, without any wild ancestors to teach them migratory routes, the birds perished after failing to find suitable wintering grounds. Biologist Johannes Fritz of Waldrappteam was inspired to try guiding the migration by the work of "Father Goose" Bill Lishman, who in the 1980s taught Canada geese to migrate and was the inspiration behind the film Fly Away Home.
Climate change is causing many migratory species to face new breeding and migrating schedules, range shifts, and other difficulties. The good news is that we can make a positive impact on our feathered friends' future by implementing climate adaptations and solutions, as well as creative conservation projects like the Waldrappteam.