Location: Austria
Credit: Helena Wehner – Waldrappteam Conservation & Research
Initiative: EU Life Project (EU Life)
Project: Waldrappteam Conservation & Research
Story: Beside workin on my PhD in earth observation science I am an conservationist for the reintroduction of the Northern Bald Ibis. Between 2019 and 2024 I handraised 5 generations of Northern Bald Ibis chicks and trained them to follow me behind a microlight plane. This is done because the Northern Bald Ibis went extinct in the european wild in the 17th century. By this method we are able to guide the juvenile birds in their first year from the breeding sites north of the Alps to breeding sites either in Italy or Spain. The photo was taken shortly before we started the human-led migration. Because we fly with two planes I was able to shot a photo of our birds and the second plane. It takes a huge effort to bring a migratory species back to the wild, huge effort of the fostermoms and a whole team of up to 15 people supporting during the human-led migration. Even more important is the support we get from locals along the migration route. I think by telling a story of success, bringing a species back to the wild, we can set a spark of hope during a time when we face many crises. Whenever we give talks about the birds in schools and local communities I can see a fire that is set in hearts.