Hand-raising at Tierpark Rosegg
Newsletter 13/04/2017
Yesterday, 17 Northern Bald Ibis chicks aged 2 to 8 days were taken from the nests of the Northern Bald Ibis breeding colony of Tierpark Rosegg in Carinthia. After a thorough veterinary check, the chicks were given into the care of the two experienced foster mothers Corinna Esterer and Anne-Gabriela Schmalstieg.
Within a week, further chicks will be taken from the colonies of Tierpark Rosegg and the Konrad-Lorenz Research Station Grünau. A total of 32 chicks will be raised by the human foster parents. These birds are the founders of a new breeding colony in Überlingen at Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg.
In the context of a LIFE+ project, eight partners from Austria, Germany and Italy are trying to reintroduce the Northern Bald Ibis in its former European distribution area. The project is funded by the European Community under the LIFE+ program. By the end of 2019, the wild population will comprise at least 120 individuals, divided into the existing breeding colonies Burghausen in Bavaria and Kuchl in Salzburg, and the third colony in Überlingen, which will be founded in this year.
In the past years the chicks were raised in two separate groups by two foster parents each. Later, the groups were merged and led together to the wintering area in autumn. This year, all chicks are raised in one group from the beginning, cared for by Corinna and Anne. Johannes Fritz, project manager of the LIFE+ reintroduction project: "This is a very big challenge and responsibility for the foster parents. Only such highly qualified employees as Anne and Corinna can cope with this task because of their extensive previous experience and high professionalism. "
The chicks are raised on-site, at Tierpark Rosegg in Carinthia. Visitors to the animal park can experience the hand-raising live. The hand-raising container is located in the entrance area of the animal park. The work of the foster mothers can be observed through two windows. In an adjacent information tent the visitors get further information about the European LIFE+ reintroduction project. Since 2004, Tierpark Rosegg has been keeping a seasonally free-flying Northern Bald Ibis colony, which comprises around 60 birds. So far, Tierpark Rosegg has given around 160 chicks to the project. Animal Park Director Emanuel Liechtenstein: "Our animal park is home to the largest free-flying Northern Bald Ibis zoo-colony, with a far above average breeding success. We can thus contribute very substantially to the reintroduction of this highly endangered bird species. "
In one month, the foster parents together with the 32 chicks will move to Überlingen at Lake Constance, Baden Württemberg. There, a new breeding colony will be established, the third to Burghausen in Bavaria and Kuchl in Salzburg. From June, the fledged birds will be trained to follow a microlight at a training camp in Hödingen. By the beginning of August, training flights will be held in the region. Mid of August, the birds will be guided across the Alps to the wintering area in southern Tuscany. J Fritz: "Until the 16th century, the Northern Bald Ibis used to breed at the sandstone cliffs north of Überlingen at Lake Constance. Now they shall return to this former breeding area. "
Currently, the free-living colony of Northern Bald Ibises includes about 70 individuals. The sexually mature birds are currently traveling from the wintering area in Tuscany to the breeding areas north of the Alps. Some have already arrived and the first eggs have already been laid in Burghausen, Bavaria. The wild birds first have to migrate to their breeding areas; they are, therefore, breeding much later than their conspecifics in the Tierpark Rosegg.
Picture (J.Fritz) NBI chicks at Tierpark Rosegg.
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