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This bird species was extinct in Europe. Now it's back, and humans must help it migrate for winter (apnews.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago by GlassHalfHopeful@lemmy.ca to c/birding@lemmy.world

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/19034034

How do you teach a bird how, and where, to fly?

The distinctive Northern Bald Ibis, hunted essentially to extinction by the 17th century, was revived by breeding and rewilding efforts over the last two decades. But the birds — known for their distinctive black-and-iridescent green plumage, bald red head and long curved beak — don’t instinctively know which direction to fly to migrate without the guidance of wild-born elders. So a team of scientists and conservationists stepped in as foster parents and flight instructors.

“We have to teach them the migration route,” said biologist Johannes Fritz.

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[–] jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

The efforts of Fritz and the Waldrappteam, a conservation and research group based in Austria, brought the Central European population from zero to almost 300 since the start of their project in 2002.

The feat moved the species from a “critically endangered” classification to “endangered” and, Fritz says, is the first attempt to reintroduce a continentally extinct migratory bird species.

Fritz was inspired by “Father Goose” Bill Lishman, a naturalist who taught Canadian geese to fly alongside his ultra-light plane beginning in 1988. He later guided endangered whooping cranes through safe routes and founded the nonprofit “Operation Migration.” Lishman’s work prompted the 1996 movie “Fly Away Home” but features a young girl as the geese’s “mother.”

[–] GlassHalfHopeful@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I'd like to better understand why the Canadian based Operation Migration ended in 2016. I understand the expert conclusions, but I wonder if anything could be done to update the program to make it more effective.

I also wonder if the program in this OP article is building upon the learnings from Operation Migration. I was surprised to see so much direct human interaction with these birds on their website.