The northern bald ibis has returned to Switzerland. But now there are problems on the journey south.
Considered critically endangered, the northern ibis is approximately the size of a goose and is particularly noticeable because of its bare head, long red beak, and black-green feathers. There have been no northern bald ibises living in Switzerland for centuries, but now they are back.
Recently, a group of Northern Bald Ibis was frolicking near Domat/Ems in the Chur district of canton Graubünden. The migratory birds come from an Austrian project that wants to reintroduce the animals to Europe. The birds have already returned to their homes again in Germany and Austria. The northern bald ibis also feels most comfortable in Switzerland.
legend:
A northern bald ibis got stuck in the Schur-Rhine valley and was unable to cross the Alps in time.
SRF/Mark Melcher
The Northern Bald Ibis, which breeds in the Lake Constance area, was actually supposed to overwinter in Italy. But the birds got stuck on the way south in the Shore-Rhine valley; They did not make the trip over the Alps. The same thing happened a year ago.
It was too late for the heat
“This is a phenomenon that we have been observing for several years. Conditions are good due to global warming, which is why the northern ibises are trying to cross the Alps so late. Unfortunately, they are no longer “They can do it well because there are no temperatures.”
The idea is to train the northern ibis on the migratory route to Andalusia.
Basically, the northern bald ibis cannot survive the winter if it stays on the north side of the Alps. That is why they have to take the necessary measures, says Johannes Fritz: “We catch the birds using automatic feeders and trapping devices. Then we take them over the Alps. Then they immediately fly from the southern edge.” They were arrested in Graubünden last Saturday.
Airplanes are used
But this is not a permanent solution. The current approach of the Reintroduction Project is to model migration behavior and trajectory. And this is not easy: “The idea is to redirect the northern ibises and train them on a migratory route to Andalusia. This is how they fly around the Alps and the Pyrenees as well.
Training is carried out using small aircraft. Young birds should be trained to follow aircraft. “In principle, it works, but it takes years. I’m confident we can do it,” says Johannes Fritz. In the future, the northern bald ibis should not remain stranded in the Rhine-Schore valley. And if so, neither There is still a taxi ride to Italy at the moment.
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