You can show a bird the sky, but can you make it migrate? Scientists hope an unusual migration effort goes beyond the ibis to help other threatened migratory species take flight.
The northern bald ibis once soared over North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and much of Europe. The strange-looking bird sports shimmering black-and-green plumage, a bald red head, and a long curved beak.
In the 1600s, hunters nearly wiped out the species. The ibis, or Waldrapp in German, disappeared entirely from Europe. A few colonies elsewhere survived.
Over the last two decades, conservation efforts have renewed populations in Europe. However, recent ibis generations can’t migrate without the guidance of wild-born elders. The God-given urge to fly was present. But instead of returning to suitable wintering grounds, ibis flew in wrong directions and ultimately died.
“We have to teach them the migration route,” biologist Johannes Fritz says. He is part of the Waldrappteam, an Austrian conservation and research group.
Since 2002, the Central European ibis population has risen from zero to almost 300. Scientists and conservationists with the Waldrappteam forged a plan to tackle the migration problem.
First, the birds must trust the humans. Team members are with the chicks from almost the moment of hatching. The chicks “imprint” on the humans that work with them. They learn to think of these people in the place of natural avian parents.
Barbara Steininger is a Waldrappteam member. She and others who work with the young ibis board microlight aircraft. The contraptions look like flying go-karts with giant fans on the back. A yellow parachute keeps each aloft. As they take to the skies, they shout encouragement through bullhorns. The birds follow. Fritz often leads the way.
This year, the route is roughly 1,740 miles—a journey of up to 50 days! That’s a long time to keep a group together. This year’s migration uses GPS trackers. Scientists can find lost birds and reunite them with the group.
There have been glitches.
After a stopover in Pérouges, France, the ibis took flight behind the aircraft but turned back. “We have had two unsuccessful take-offs,” the group’s Facebook page read. “It is unlikely that a third attempt would have been successful.” Undeterred, the team transported birds by van to another stop.
Fritz says, “Young birds can easily bridge unflown stages [in the route], even at long distances.”
The Waldrappteam credits a “complex navigational ability” for this fill-the-gap skill. But it is the Creator God who enabled birds’ to “fly above the Earth across the expanse of the heavens.” (Genesis 1:20) He guides their paths—just as He guides yours.
Why? Nature points humans to a Creator who carefully plans for, loves, and watches over His creation. This same God also gifts humans with skill to steward His Earth.
