On June 5 2015, the third `Reason for Hope´ Festival took place in Burghausen. As part of our LIFE+ project the festival was hosted by the City of Burghausen. The main occasion was the official opening of the new Breeding Camp at the defence wall of the Castle of Burghausen.
Yesterday, April 17th, 16 northern bald Ibis chicks where taken out of their nests at the Tierpark Rosegg in Carinthia and transferred to Zoo Vienna. There, they will be handraised by the two human foster parents Corinna Esterer ad Anne-Gabriela Schmalstieg. From today on, visitors of Zoo Vienna can experience the handraising work live. Raising takes place in a container, located near the bald ibis aviary.
The evolution of cooperation is still one of the great mysteries of evolutionary biology, because it is contrary to the general principle that evolution promotes only selfish genes. This week, a paper is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS), where we present the V formation flight as a rare example of true cooperation in animals.
Illegal Hunting of highly endangered Northern Bald Ibises in Italy:
Livorno Province, Tuscany, is a hot spot for losses
In autumn 2014, twenty migratory Northern Bald Ibises left their breeding areas Burghausen/Bavaria and Kuchl/Salzburg regularly for autumn migration. They grouped together and departed to the South. However, different to previous years, the group remained North of the Alps, most probable due to the extremely mild weather with temperatures well above 0 C°. Permanent monitoring of the group indicated that they found plenty of food.
This week, the LIFE+ Project Management Team met to terminate and discuss the season 2014. Of course, among other topics, the so far outstanding course of the autumn migration was an important issue.
The majority of our free-roaming migratory Northern Bald Ibises is currently still north of the Alps. Thus, their autumn migration journey is delayed for more than a month. This situation may seem unusual or worrying, but in our view it is rather fascinating and exciting.
Together with Jane Goodall on new paths against illegal bird hunting
On October 12th, the primatologist and UN messenger of peace Jane Goodall signed a pioneering agreement, together with representatives of the Italian hunting associations FIDC and CCT and of the EU LIFE + project ‘Reason for Hope’.
Shorty has returned to Switzerland
Since today, October 16, the Northern Bald Ibis "Shorty" is back again in Switzerland. The bird carries a GPS device, it´s current position is between St. Gallen and Uzwil. The female Shorty gained fame in Switzerland, since she lost contact to her experienced fellows during the autumn migration. For lack of knowledge of the appropriate wintering area in Tuscany, she overwintered all by herself in Switzerland near lake Zug.
Waldrappteam LIFE + 12-BIO_AT_000143
The flight with the Bald Ibis: Successful human-led migration 2014 finalized
On September 4, a group of 14 Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita) reached the southern Tuscany/Italy.
Finally: The last stage of the human-led migration 2014 is mastered. We´ve reached our destination!
Dear Friends of the LIFE+ Northern Bald Ibis project,
Unfortunately, yesterday´s trip was unexpectedly turbulent, and our joy was preceded by deep concern. We took off at 07:30 am from Borgo San Lorenzo and were immediately carried onward by a strong current. The helicopter with the camera crew followed us. At a maximum rate of 100 km/h, we passed Florence and after less than an hour we had already reached San Gimignano.
Airfield Borgo San Lorenzo, Italy
Dear Friends of the LIFE+ Northern Bald Ibis project,
within five days, we´ve crossed the Alps, the Karawank´s Mountain Region, the Po Valley and the Apennines. The last of the three flight stages took us from Valle Gaffaro south of the Po Delta to the airport Borgo San Lorenzo, about 20 km north east of Florence.
