“I fly with the birds”

The threatened Northern Bald Ibis are learning to migrate again thanks to their special bond with their researcher ‘foster parents,’ a tiny plane and some airborne megaphone encouragement.

Before teaching the birds where to go for the winter, attempts to release captive ibises into the wild were fatal. When the birds’ urge to migrate kicked in, they flew in different directions, got lost, and died.

That’s because knowing how and where to migrate isn’t just instinct—it's something birds learn from their elders. And that’s where Johannes Fritz’s team steps in. They act as surrogate ibis "parents," guiding the flock to their wintering grounds."

And don’t worry: all 36 ibises made it safely to the wintering ground in Spain!

✏️🎤 Carin Leong
🎞️ Kylie Murphy
📸 Johannes Fritz
📍 Waldrappteam Conservation and Research