Team - Waldrappteam

The name Waldrappteam Conservation and Research is based on the history of the company. In 2001, a team of researchers led by Johannes Fritz began flying with Northern Bald Ibises (German: Waldrapp) – hence the name Waldrappteam. Inspired by the story of Bill Lishman and the Hollywood film ‘Fly away home’, the team tested whether hand-raised juvenile Northern Bald Ibises could be trained to follow their foster parents, who co-pilot in ultralight aircraft, so that the birds could later be guided to their wintering areas.

Johannes Fritz

DIRECTOR

Johannes founded the Waldrappteam in 2002 and has since been a leading figure in the efforts to reintroduce the Northern Bald Ibis in Europe. He was already employed as project manager in the first LIFE-project and also in the new LIFE-project his task includes the coordination of the project team. As project manager he is mainly responsible for the implementation of the project goals and represents the project in public. Johannes studied biology and received his doctorate from the University of Vienna in 2000. He then worked at the Konrad Lorenz Institute in Altenberg and the Konrad Lorenz Research Centre in Grünau, where a sedentary Northern bald Ibis colony is situated.

Barbara Steininger

PROJECT ASSISTANT

Barbara completed her bachelor’s degree in biology with a focus on zoology at the University of Vienna. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in wildlife ecology and wildlife management at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. As part of her studies, she has already raised greylag goose goslings at the Konrad Lorenz Research Station in Grünau im Almtal. In 2023 and 2024, Barbara acted as a foster mother, preparing young northern bald ibises for release into the wild. Since 2025, she has been working as project assistant.

Margit Waldherr-Mair

ADMINISTRATION

Margit has been a member of the Waldrappteam since 2018 and is responsible for administration and management.

She holds a degree from a business academy and has previously worked in various industries.

Marie-Luise Batzdorf

Foster mother

Marie-Luise Batzdorf has been part of the team since 2025. After completing her veterinary medicine studies in Leipzig, she works as a foster mother, together with Johanna Haas, to raise Northern Bald Ibises and prepare them for the release program .

Johanna Haas

Foster mother

Johanna Haas studied biology at the University of Vienna. In 2023 and 2024, she was already part of the ground team during the first two human-led migrations to Andalusia. In the following year, together with Marie-Luise Batzdorf, she will for the first time act as a foster mother to prepare young Northern Bald Ibises for the release program.

Clara Renner

Camp leader

Clara studied Biology at the University of Bayreuth and has worked as a nature park ranger in recent years. In 2025, she will take on the role of camp coordinator for hand-rearing, overseeing a wide range of organizational and logistical tasks.

Emma Charlie Kölsch

Camp assistant

Emma Charlie Kölsch is studying a Master’s degree in Landscape Ecology at the University of Münster and has specialized in ornithology. In a Master’s thesis, Charlie is researching exploratory flights of subadult Waldrapp ibises in Andalusia and is also supporting the team as a camp assistant during the hand-rearing process.

Markus Unsöld

RESEARCH COOPERATION

During his biology studies at the LMU Munich, Markus was already involved with the Northern Bald Ibis and investigated the sun-bathing behaviour of these birds for his diploma thesis. He has been a member of the Waldrappteam since 2003 and participated in all human-led migrations from 2003 – 2014. He also took on the role of foster parent in 2008 and 2009. He is particularly interested in historical research on the Northern Bald Ibis and the mechanisms of emergence and passing on of migration traditions. Markus works full-time as curator of the ornithology section at the Munich State Zoological Collection.

Bernhard Völkl

RESEARCH COOPERATION

Bernhard Völkl is a lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Bern and a member of the Animal Welfare Department. He studied biology at the University of Vienna and after several research stays at the CNRS in Strasbourg, the Humboldt University of Berlin and the University of Oxford, he habilitated in behavioural biology and animal welfare at the University of Bern in 2019. Since 2012, he has supervised several research projects in the context of human-led autumn migrations. Specifically, Bernhard has been working on flight techniques, formation flight and the cooperation of animals during formation flight.

Walter Holzmüller

PILOT COOPERATION

Walter Holzmüller is a professional pilot, flight instructor and technician for ultralight aircraft and paragliders. He has successfully participated in numerous competitions in his career. In 2009 he was world champion and in 2012 vice world champion in the category paramotor trike two-seater. Walter has been working for the company as a pilot and as a technician since 2007. He has adapted and continuously optimised the two aircraft used for the specific requirements. Due to his extensive professional experience, he contributes significantly to the optimisation of the human-led migration and thus to the success of the reintroduction project.