A really good story on the BBC website today.
The northern bald ibis was once common throughout Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East.
A team of scientists are trying to reintroduce the bird back into Northern Europe. Birds are being released and then encouraged to migrate south from Germany to Italy. It is hoped that the birds will then get into the habit of migrating.
The scientists are using microlights and were obviously inspired by the Crane project in the US.
The birds hatch in the Spring and are straight away introduced to their new human foster parents. Over the next few months the foster parents spend large amounts of tie acting as parents - feeding them, grooming them and playing with them.
It is hoped that the bond becomes so strong that the birds will follow their parents anywhere - even if the parents are in a microlight.
2 comments:
Lets hope they are as smart as the Whooping Cranes are and learn the route.
I really hope this is successful. It's amazing the patience some folk have in trying to help nature generally :)
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