Barely an hour after crossing the Alps, the flight of two northern bald ibises ended fatally in #Lombardy: shot dead, in the middle of a meadow.
The endangered migratory #birds were part of an EU conservation project.

While Europe invests millions in #speciesconservation, the same #animals are killed elsewhere by recreational hunters. A cautionary tale about hypocrisy, tradition, and irresponsibility.
#NorthernBaldIbis #baldibis

https://wildbeimwild.com/en/europe-39-s-shame-two-northern-bald-ibises-shot-dead-in-italy/

🦩 The Northern Bald Ibis is making a comeback! 🌍 Once thought to be extinct in Europe for over 300 years, this majestic bird with its distinctive long beak and striking black feathers is soaring back thanks to dedicated conservation efforts. 🌿

@goodnews

#GoodNews #Conservation #WildlifeRecovery #EndangeredSpecies #NorthernBaldIbis #Biodiversity

https://edition.cnn.com/science/gallery/northern-bald-ibis-photos-c2e-spc/index.html

4% doesn't sound like a lot-- except 4% short of 2,800km is quite a bit, taking heart rate as a rough indicator of endurance.

"We estimated birds’ energy expenditure through different proxies...

Heart rate varied greatly among individuals, with a clear decrease during gliding—corroborating its energy-saving function. Furthermore, we found consistent proof for decreased heart rate during in-wake flying, by up to 4.2%."

#NorthernBaldIbis
#AvianMigration

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2024.1173?af=R

This bird came back from #extinction - now scientists in a glider [microlight] are teaching it to migrate

Extinct in central Europe for 300 years, 36 #NorthernBaldIbis are following an ultralight aircraft on their long-forgotten migration route from Austria to Spain
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/28/northern-bald-ibis-bird-back-from-extinction-now-scientists-in-a-glider-are-teaching-it-to-migrate-aoe
#TheAgeOfExtinction

Cool news of the day 🤩

A #biologist is teaching #endangered #birds new #migration paths from #Austria to #Italy - by flying there with them in a 3-wheeled car with a propeller & parachute-like canopy

The #NorthernBaldIbis (#Waldrapp) were extinct in the wild 50yrs ago, but thru careful reintroduction, #JohannesFritz has rewilded 277 #Ibises & since 2004 has been teaching migration paths (changed over the years b/c of #ClimateChange) to help them get through the winter

https://mymodernmet.com/johannes-fritz-teaches-northern-bald-ibis-new-migration-pattern/