Spring migration has begun
Newsletter 31/03/2016
On March 19th, the two adult NBIs Jazu and Salem departed from Tuscany. This year´s spring migration started about one week earlier than in the previous years. Both birds swiftly flew to the southern edge of the Alps, staying there for a while because bad weather conditions prevented them from flying on. On March 27th Jazu crossed the Alps, the next day he arrived at the breeding area of Burghausen (Bavaria). Salem, on the other hand, is still staying south of the Alps. Meanwhile, even more NBIs have left the wintering site and are heading towards the breeding areas of Burghausen (Bavaria) and Kuchl (Salzburg).
The departures from the wintering area are usually dependent of age and performed gradually. The experienced adult birds fly first, followed by the younger breeding birds, and finally also some of the sexually immature subadult birds leave the wintering grounds. In general, the birds fly on their own or in pairs, rarely in larger groups. Thus, the spring migration significantly differs from the autumn migration.
The arrival of Jazu at the breeding structure of Burghausen is even more pleasant regarding last year´s relocation of the breeding group from the previous temporary location on the outskirts of Burghausen to the defense wall of the Castle of Burghausen. Last year, the birds had to be caught after their arrival at the former breeding site. They were brought to the new location and locked in the aviary. Not until the eggs were laid was the aviary opened. This year, Jazu flew to the new breeding location straightaway, which indicates that the new breeding site is attractive and suitable for the birds. This is another important success for the LIFE+ project.
Jazu is the first migratory NBI to arrive at Burghausen this year, but he isn´t alone. As in the previous years, some NBIs experienced in breeding were already brought to Burghausen and Kuchl, where they are temporarily staying in aviaries. Those birds don´t belong to the established migratory group of NBIs, but they help to increase the reproductive success of the wild birds. Before the start of the autumn migration they are removed from the NBI group. One of Burghausen´s breeding birds is the female Shorty, and for years she´s been the partner of Jazu. Thus, those two NBIs are already busy preparing for the coming breeding season.
Picture: Our staff member Oliver Habel has opened the aviary at the defense wall of Burghausen Castle for Jazu. The bird entered willingly and soon started the courtship. For several weeks, the birds are kept in the aviary until the breeding has begun.
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