The Northern Bald Ibis, once nearly hunted to extinction by the 17th century, has seen a revival through dedicated breeding and rewilding efforts over the past two decades.

Since the project began in 2002, the Waldrappteam, an Austrian conservation group led by biologist Johannes Fritz, has successfully increased the Central European population of Northern Bald Ibises from zero to nearly 300.

This conservation effort has elevated the species from 'critically endangered' to 'endangered' status, marking the first attempt to reintroduce a continentally extinct migratory bird species in Europe.

The Waldrappteam acts as foster parents and flight instructors for the birds, having recently undertaken their 17th journey with human-led migration guides.

Biologist Johannes Fritz emphasizes the importance of teaching the ibises their migration route, as they lack instinctual knowledge without guidance from older, wild-born birds.

To facilitate this learning, chicks are removed from breeding colonies shortly after hatching and raised by adoptive parents, helping them bond and trust their human caregivers during migration.

The unique migration process involves a light aircraft resembling a flying go-kart, which the birds follow as Fritz pilots it.

The migration journey to Spain is expected to take up to 50 days, concluding in early October, and aims to support the broader goal of creating a self-sustaining population of over 350 birds by 2028.

However, climate change has altered their migration patterns, causing the ibises to migrate later in the season and face harsher conditions when crossing the Alps.

These efforts are crucial to ensure the survival of the Northern Bald Ibis within its historical range, as they work to adapt to new environmental challenges.

Foster parents, including Barbara Steininger, play a vital role in nurturing the birds and guiding them along the migration route using the microlight aircraft.

Historically, the Northern Bald Ibis thrived across North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and much of Europe before its decline.