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Austrian biologist Johannes Fritz has dedicated his career to helping northern bald ibises, also called Waldrapp. This rare species of bird was completely extinct in the wild 50 years ago; however, through careful reintroduction, he's been able to “rewild” 277 ibises in his home country. To ensure that they survive the temperatures of the winter, Fritz even taught young birds a new migration path from Austria to Italy with the help of a flying machine.
Fritz escorted the first group of ibises in 2004. However, that path has already been affected by climate change. After noticing that three colonies failed to make the trip, he and his team at Waldrappteam captured the birds and drove them where they needed to go. This was only a temporary solution, of course. Soon afterward, Fritz was devising a new route for the ibises which would help them avoid the dangers of the Alps.
Using a three-wheeled vehicle affixed with a propeller and parachute-like canopy, Fritz took off with the birds. He taught them a new migration path that measures about 2,500 miles, which is about three times longer than the old route. Rather than go to Italy, the ibises now travel to Spain's southern Atlantic coast. It takes Fritz and the birds six weeks to make a one-way trip.
Some may wonder how Fritz is able to teach the birds in his flying machine, and why the ibises choose to follow him. The answer is quite simple. Fritz and the Waldrappteam have taken care of the birds their whole lives—feeding them and supporting them. So they willingly follow him in these training sessions, despite not knowing their new destination.
Austrian biologist Johannes Fritz has been helping northern bald ibises, an endangered species of bird.
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He founded the company Waldrappteam, and has helped reintroduce these ibises into the wild.
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Part of this program required Fritz to teach the young ibises a migration path over the Alps into Italy.
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He did so with the aid of his flying machine, training the birds to follow him on the route.
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However, over the years, the migration path has become affected by climate change, forcing Fritz to come up with a new route for the birds.
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The new path avoids the Alps, leading the ibises to Spain. A 2,500-mile trip that Fritz and his team took with them.
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This dedication is making it possible for this rare species of bird to find new footing in a changing world.
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Waldrappteam: Website | Instagram | Facebook
h/t: [Upworthy]
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