HLM 2015 completed
Newsletter 09/09/2015
On August 8 the 10th human-led migration with young Northern Bald Ibises was completed. After 18 days the team and 28 birds arrived at the WWF reserve Laguna di Orbetello in southern Tuscany. In the course of five flight stages a total distance of 794 km has been covered, with a daily mean of 159 km. The mean flight speed was 45 km/h, with tailwind speeds of up to 76 km/h could be reached.
This migration was characterised by fantastic flights of unprecedented ways. Twice as much birds than ever before were guided towards the wintering area, led by two microlight airplanes with one pilot and one foster parent respectively. For the first time the Alps and the Apennines were crossed way above the actual mountain heights. Those flights were a new experience, also for the two experienced pilots Johannes Fritz and Walter Holzmüller: “This seemingly infinite dimension, with the mountains far below us, but the second microlight and the birds in immediate vicinity, was an almost surreal impression. We think that the birds got an ideal overview during those flights, which later helps them to find the best route back to their breeding areas.”
On the very same day of their arrival the young Northern Bald Ibises met their free living conspecifics. Thus, a total of 66 birds currently live in the wintering area. A further 19 wild birds are currently still north of the Alps near Salzburg. This group should migrate to Tuscany in the coming weeks.
Some photographic impressions of this year´s human-led migration can be downloaded here.
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