Newsletter 20/12/2019
As already reported, the start of the autumn migration of our NBIs was delayed this year. On November 22nd, our birds north of the Alps and in Carinthia began to migrate towards south independently. In Carinthia, migration stopped again, probably due to persistent bad weather with fog and poor visibility. But on December 11th, the first day with good flight weather, nine young birds and three adults started from Ferlach in Carinthia and crossed the Loiblpass to Slovenia. Then they headed towards southwest to the coast at Rovinj in Istria. From there they followed the Croatian coastline further south to Zadar.
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Newsletter 17/09/2019
A completely different perspective on bird flight: This year, four Northern Bald Ibises from the Zurich Zoo were hand-raised by Katharina Neugebauer and Frederik Amann. At the end of July, the four birds and their foster parents moved with to Seekirchen am Wallersee in Austria. Since July, a wind tunnel specially adapted to the requirements of NBIs has been set up in an abandoned stable.
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Newsletter 19/07/2019
On August 14th at 9:15 am, two microlight aircrafts took off from Heiligenberg; they were piloted by Walter Holzmüller and Johannes Fritz and had the two foster mothers Helena Wehner and Anne-Gabriela Schmalstieg aboard. It was the beginning of the 14th human-led migration in the context of the reintroduction of the Northern Bald Ibis in Europe. During the previous weeks, thirty birds were trained to follow the microlight aircrafts.
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Newsletter 26/11/2019
Start-up of a new breeding colony
This year, for the first time, 18 young Northern Bald Ibises which grew up in Tierpark Rosegg in Carinthia were equipped with GPS devices and left outside the aviary; the remaining individuals of this sedentary zoo colony were, as usual, transferred to the aviary at the end of September. Five of our adult experienced migratory birds were transferred to the free-flying juveniles, hoping that they’ll guide the young ones to the common wintering area in southern Tuscany.
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Newsletter 13/09/2019
Sonic is a two-year old-old female Northern Bald Ibis; she belongs to the first generation of birds that were trained in Überlingen at Lake Constance in 2017 and were guided by ultralight aircrafts to the wintering area in Tuscany. In 2020, when these birds are sexually mature, they will return to Überlingen independently to breed.
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Newsletter 05/07/2019
This year we are training an excellent group of 31 young Northern Bald Ibises in Heiligenberg at Lake Constance. The birds are already reliably following the ultralight aircraft.
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Newsletter 15/11/2019
During the last few days winter was coming to Austria, which also affected the Northern Bald Ibises from the breeding areas Burghausen and Kuchl, most of which are still staying north of the Alps. Since the temperatures during the day are usually well above zero and the cold weather front, according to forecasts, soon gives way to milder weather, the birds are not acutely endangered. They are currently in good condition, feeding them is not required.
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The current LIFE+ project ends in 2019. We hope to continue the reintroduction as part of a second LIFE project from 2021 onwards; the application process is already ongoing. However, we do not want to pause the project in 2020 so as not to jeopardize the successful course of the reintroduction. For 2020, we still need another € 200,000 to fully implement the project. We would very much appreciate any financial support!
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For any further questions, do not hesitate to contact the project manager Johannes Fritz: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Newsletter 05/07/2019
Comeback after 400 years: First wild Northern Bald ibis crosses the Alps on its way to Überlingen in Germany
The female Northern Bald Ibis Sonic belongs to the colony Überlingen; in 2017, she was guided to Tuscany and released into the wild. On June 5, 2019, Sonic left Tuscany again. Her flight is constantly monitored by GPS and can be followed by using the App Animal Tracker.
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Newsletter 24/10/2019
In spring 2019, the United Nations World Biodiversity Council presented alarming numbers of species extinction. Of estimated eight million plant and animal species on our planet, around one million are at risk of extinction. Now, the Species Survival Commission Leaders of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) direct the Abu Dhabi call to the world community. They urgently appeal for effective action to address the unprecedented, unsustainable and growing impacts on wild species from human activities.
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Newsletter 30/08/2019
On August 26 we and 29 young Northern Bald Ibises arrived at the WWF reserve Laguna di Orbetello in southern Tuscany. It was the sixth human-led migration in the current LIFE+ project, the 14th altogether and, moreover, by far the most successful one.
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Newsletter 27/06/2019
Great progress in the breeding colony Kuchl: The natural rock niches are being colonised
By now, 22 Northern Bald Ibis chicks hatched at Georgenberg in Kuchl. Last season, there were 14 young birds; this significant increase compared to the previous year is a very positive development. So far, all birds have been breeding in artificial rock niches.
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