Imminent start of HLM 2015
Newsletter, 13.08.2015
The annual human-led migration in the context of the reintroduction of the Northern Bald Ibis in Europe approaches. Thereby, young birds descending from zoo colonies and imprinted on human foster parents are led from the northern Pre-Alps to Tuscany with the aid of two microlights. This year, we aim to fly with twice as much birds as before: 31 young Northern Bald Ibises are guided in one formation with two microlights from Seekirchen am Wallersee (Salzburg) across the Alps to Tuscany. Basically, we are ready to set off on Monday, August 17th, as long as the weather conditions fit.
During the last few months two groups of young birds were hand-raised and trained by human foster parents. At the end of July we flew with both groups simultaneously for the first time. Those flights always proceeded promising. If we succeed in guiding this large group of Northern Bald Ibises to Tuscany it will be a huge success for the reintroduction of this species in Europe.
The flight route has a total length of around 1000 km. The route is to be mastered within four to five day stages. The crossing of the Alps is to be accomplished already on day one of the migration. Our destination is the protected area Laguna di Orbetello in southern Tuscany, where the young birds will meet their conspecifics that settled there during the last few years.
The Northern Bald Ibis, one of the most endangered migratory bird species worldwide, was native in Central Europe until the 17th century. The species became extinct mainly due to the intense persecution by humans. In the context of a reintroduction project co-financed by the EU (LIFE+ Biodiversity) with eight partners in Austria, Italy and Germany the Northern Bald Ibis is to be reintroduced in Europe.
Journalists are welcome to join the team during the start of the migrationat Seekirchen am Wallersee or at the stopover sites along the flight route.
We will publish daily updates regarding the human-led migration 2015 on our website (www.waldrapp.eu).
Picture download: https://www.dropbox.com/sc/r7oq4bqjsw99x8a/AABMfZaVkBrZ0O7-CX2oJ328a (Copyright Waldrappteam; for free use; please cite the name of the photographer mentioned in the file name).
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