Slowed down by the wind
Newsletter 03/09/2015
Almost 500 km were covered through three flight stages and the airfield Valle Gaffaro that is located on the southern edge of the Po Delta, was reached. We have been waiting for suitable wind conditions to fly over the Apennines for four days, but now we need to go further. This is why we are planning a small stage of 60 km to the airport Lugo for tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, depending on the weather conditions. From there we would be able to reach the wintering area in a further stage of about 220 km.
This break was nevertheless positive for the birds, since they have lost 5% of body weight on average since the beginning of the migration. According to our previous experience this fat loss is in a normal range. However, the weight should not fall further also because it is possible that the birds will temporarily lose their motivation to fly on. We are therefore not in a hurry, being in line to the nature of an autumnal migration.
The second flight stage from Mauterndorf to Al Casale in Friuli was characterized by a completely new flying style. The essential part of the flight was done in constant formation on more than 2,000 meters above sea level. Therefore we were able to cross the Alps and the Karawanken in a direct line. So far it has not been possible to lead the birds to such heights and keep them there. This great success was achieved in particular thanks to our pilot Walter Holzmüller. We also assume that this altitude helps the birds creating an optimal overview and allows them to orientate autonomously.
Unfortunately, the original number of 31 birds was reduced to a current number of 28 animals. We noticed that one bird was not able to migrate autonomously, and it will be transported to the Laguna di Orbetello by car. After the last flight two birds were not able to migrate to the next stopover site. One of them was found again soon. The second one, the female Raphael, has been lost for five days, despite a great media and digital coverage- the posting about Raphael on our Italian Facebook site has so far been read 13,000 times! We continue to hope to find the bird again, especially since we have never lost a bird in the past 14 years during a migration. Yesterday we had another problem with one of the birds: an individual broke its beak in the aviary. It was immediately transported to Villach and treated by Dr. Jean Meyer. In a few weeks it will be able to return to its group.
Nevertheless, 28 birds kept in two separate aviaries remain still with us. We will continue the migration with them, hopefully soon.
Photo (P Przesang): The flight over the Mountains at 2500 m above sea level with a great number of birds and two aircrafts in close formation is probably beneficial for the birds. For the persons involved it is in any case a fantastic, almost surreal experience.
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