Newsletter 26/03/2021
Almost exactly one year ago, we had to decide to cancel the hand-raising due to the lockdown. The perspectives were too uncertain. This was certainly the right decision. Today, one year later, the general conditions regarding the infection numbers are unfortunately worse. Nevertheless, this year we decided to carry out the hand-raising and human-guided migration.
Newsletter 14/12/2020
The autumn migration for the breeding colonies north of the Alps is concluded. Approximately 120 birds are in the Tuscan wintering area at the WWF Oasi Laguna di Orbetello, while further 40 birds are spread over the area between Tuscany and the southern edge of the Alps. We expect more birds to reach the common wintering site, although an increasing number of birds spend their winter further north. This progressive shortening of the migration distance occurring in parts of the population is a phenomenon also known in other species, most probably driven by global warming due to climate change.
Newsletter 05/11/2020
The migration of the Northern Bald Ibises is in full progress. For the last couple of days more and more ibises reach their wintering site in Tuscany while the rest of them is still on their autumnal journey.
Newsletter 02/11/2020
Press information of the Austrian Science Foundation (FWF) regarding the research project FWF P 30620, which runs in the frame of our NBI reintroduction project.
Migratory birds flying south provide an impressive example of cooperative behaviour that saves power and energy. In the past it was impossible for scientists to study this phenomenon in a natural environment. Researchers who guided young Northern Bald Ibises to their wintering grounds have now succeeded for the first time in obtaining a comprehensive data set. A better understanding of this behaviour is also of fundamental importance in respect of climate change.
Newsletter 19/10/2020
With 27 fledglings in 9 nests the breeding season in Burghausen and Kuchl is successfully concluded. Similar to the last years, the birds left the two breeding areas in August and merged in Salzburg. Six birds from the sedentary colony at the Konrad-Lorenz Research Centre in Grünau im Almtal also joined this group, which currently consists of a total of 53 birds.
Newsletter 22/10/2020
Any form of tagging or marking of wild animals also entails costs and risks for the bearer. In our recently published paper (Download), we describe a particularly unexpected case of impairing consequences of biologging.
Newsletter 24/07/2020
This year, a total of 12 Northern Bald Ibises already returned to Überlingen in Baden-Württemberg, and 7 of them have been seen simultaneously in the last weeks (see photo). These are far more birds then expected based on our previous experience. As already reported, this year, breeding did not take place in Überlingen, due to the management limitations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Newsletter 02/06/2020
We recently got the information that the second application for a further LIFE project to continue the reintroduction of the Northern Bald Ibis was rejected. Ironically, this happens at a time when we cannot wish for a better course of the project.
On May 7, the male Zoppo landed in the breeding area of Überlingen at Lake Constance. He is the first adult Northern Bald Ibis to return to this former breeding area independently, 400 years after extinction.
The female Sonic made headlines already in 2019, by being the first Northern Bald Ibis to return to the historic breeding site in Überlingen at Lake Constance. In April she started her migration from Tuscany, only this time sexually mature. Sonic spend the night from April 18th to April 19th in the municipality of Lohn in the nature park Beverin, Canton of Grisons. The following morning, the dead body of Sonic was found below an unsecured power pole. The body was secured by a park ranger who took it to the animal hospital in Bern for necropsy.
More and more Northern Bald Ibises depart from their wintering area in Tuscany and arrive at their breeding sites. The groups in Burghausen and Kuchl currently consist of eight birds each. Nest building is ongoing at both sites. This year’s development is particularly exciting in the colony in Kuchl, State of Salzburg, where the Northern bald Ibises seemingly start to breed in the rock face of Georgenberg for the first time.
