Great progress
Newsletter 27/06/2019
Great progress in the breeding colony Kuchl: The natural rock niches are being colonised
By now, 22 Northern Bald Ibis chicks hatched at Georgenberg in Kuchl. Last season, there were 14 young birds; this significant increase compared to the previous year is a very positive development. So far, all birds have been breeding in artificial rock niches.
A natural conglomerate rock face - approximately 60 meters high - with numerous niches lies about 200 meters further south of this artificial breeding site. This rock wall was the reason for choosing the location Georgenberg for the foundation of a Northern Bald Ibis breeding colony. The initial management of the colony was not possible because of the buildings on the base of the rock wall, which is why the artificial structures were needed for the time being.
In the last days we have initiated the colonization of the natural rock wall. Our goal was to transfer two nests with a total of 6 chicks at the age of 15-25 days together with their parent birds from the artificial niches into a large natural niche at a height of approx. 20 meters. Although we already have some experience with the transfer of birds and nests, this particular project was new territory for us.
The transfer took place on the morning of the 25th of June. At first, the parent birds returned to the artificial niches for several times and had to be brought back into the natural niche. But in the afternoon, they began to feed their chicks at the new location. In the evening, one breeding pair flew independently to their chicks. The chicks have survived the night of the 26th of June all right and since the morning all four adult birds have been feeding their young in the new niche.
Thus, the colonization of the natural rock wall is successfully initiated. This is a great step forward for the reintroduction of the European Northern Bald Ibis population! We now have another essential method of reintroduction at natural breeding sites at hand, and this method will be applied to another site next year. We expect the first breeding birds to return to Überlingen at Lake Constance in 2020. Initially, they are to breed in an aviary, but then they will be transferred into the molasse rocks on the shores of Lake Constance.
We would like to remind you of the Reason for Hope festivity on Saturday, June 29th at 1:00 pm at Georgenberg in Kuchl, where we will proudly present the first two breeding pairs in the natural breeding niches!
Picture: The release took place in a niche in the bottom third of the wall at a height of about 20 meters. The birds have already inspected more niches. The rock wall can accommodate a colony of more than 100 animals.
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