Number of chicks
Days until migration
KM to Spain
Human-Led Migration 2026
In 2026, a group of Northern Bald Ibises will again be raised by two human foster parents and accompanied on a human-led migration to a wintering area in Spain. The chicks come from the colony at Rosegg Zoo and are initially raised by their foster parents in Rosegg, without contact with other humans, and later in a specially prepared training camp. In the training camp, they learn to follow an ultralight aircraft, with one of the foster parents on board. Afterwards, they set out together with a ground team that provides logistical support for the migration, heading south. Upon arrival in the wintering area in Spain, the birds are gradually released into the wild after an acclimatization period and become part of the migrating population.
Why spain?
Global warming is also becoming a challenge for the Northern Bald Ibis. The birds of the colonies in the northern foothills of the Alps are having increasing problems flying over the Alpine barrier in autumn. A new migration corridor to Andalusia should enable them to reach a suitable wintering area without being hindered by the barrier of the Alps.
Click here for the latest pictures and information:
Timetable for human-led migration 2026
CW 15 - 16
Collection of approximately 32 Northern Bald Ibis chicks at Rosegg Zoo (Carinthia).
CW 15 - 20
The chicks are hand-raised for the first few weeks in Rosegg (Carinthia).
CW 20 - 33
Relocation to the training camp in Binningen (Hilzingen): habituation to themicrolight and step-by-step training of the young birds until they are eventually able to perform proper training flights.
In June and July, there will be the opportunity to visit the camp at scheduled times, observe the young northern bald ibises from a distance, and learn more about the project.
Further information will follow shortly.
Contact: info@waldrappteam.at
CW 33 - 40
Migration through Germany, France, and Spain:
final destination: Andalusia (ES)
CW 50
Release of the HLM 2026 birds in spain.
Migration Diary 2026
May 14, 2026
Eagerly testing their wings, the young Northern Bald Ibises are ready to leave the nest, and with it, the hand raising container in Rosegg. We truly enjoyed our time in Rosegg and would like to sincerely thank Tierpark Rosegg for all the help and support throughout the past weeks.
The training camp is always located close to a breeding colony, as this is where the birds will later return from their wintering grounds once they reach sexual maturity. This year, the camp is located near Lake Constance, allowing the birds of HLM 2026 to later integrate into the Überlingen colony.
Although we originally planned to establish the camp at the Riedlingen airfield, we unfortunately had to cancel those plans at the very last minute due to spatial limitations. We are therefore even more grateful that the Binningen airfield, where the hand raising team already stayed in 2023, offered to host us again this year.
After part of the team, together with several helpers, set up the camp in Binningen within a very short time, the birds could be transferred there on Thursday afternoon. Following a long journey, they arrived safely in Binningen during the night and moved into their brand new hand raising trailer.
All young ibises handled the trip very well and are already curiously exploring their new surroundings, especially the opening leading into their aviary. In just a few days, the first birds will dare the leap into the unknown and fly out into the aviary.
📷 B. Steininger
May 6, 2026
Hard to believe, but our time at Tierpark Rosegg is already coming to an end.
Most of our chicks now weigh over one kilogram. There’s a lot going on in the had-raising-container: the chicks are busily moving back and forth between the nests, and the larger ones are eagerly testing their now well-feathered wings. A clear sign that the container will soon be too small for this lively bunch.
At the beginning of next week, we will therefore move to our training camp in southern Germany. There, the Northern Bald Ibises will be housed in a brand-new rearing trailer connected to a spacious aviary. Once they are around 40 days old, they will be able to attempt their first real wingbeats.
The foster mothers and the rest of the team will live and work in the field camp until August. We are very much looking forward to this new phase of the rearing season, even though we will certainly miss our supporters here in Rosegg and the mountains.
📷 E. Bajka
April 20, 2026
Our family is complete!
After the fourth and final chick collection, 32 Northern Bald Ibis chicks are now sitting in eight nests in the rearing container in Rosegg. The two foster mothers are now busy around the clock feeding, caring for, and keeping the lively flock in good spirits.
The age difference between the youngest and oldest chicks is no more than 14 days. At the moment, the developmental differences are still very noticeable: our oldest chick is now 20 days old. The larger chicks in the group have already started climbing from one nest to another.
A bustling group of Northern Bald Ibises, fully devoted to their current main task: eating, growing, and thriving.
April 14, 2026
Our bird group is growing and thriving! By now, the two foster mothers have 22 beaks to feed – and a few more are yet to come.
We take over the chicks for hand-raising at an age of three to eight days. Especially during the first weeks after hatching, the Northern Bald Ibises grow rapidly and steadily gain weight. In the container, the chicks spend their days in a rhythm of feeding, sleeping, and cuddling with their foster parents.
April 8, 2026
After extensive planning and dedicated preparations, the time has finally come: the 2026 hand-rearing season can begin!
For Fabienne and Eszter, this is their first season in the role of foster mothers, and the excitement is accordingly high as six chicks from the colony at Tierpark Rosegg are placed in their care. Initially supported by Barbara, a former foster mother, they quickly learn how to properly care for their chicks.
The 2026 hand-rearing team also includes Amelie, who is responsible for camp management and, in a way, for supporting the foster mothers, as well as Yun, a Chinese PhD student who will collect data this season and support the core team.
A strong, motivated team that is starting this adventure full of enthusiasm and anticipation.