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Previously Extinct Bird Species Learning To Migrate

Previously Extinct Bird Species Learning To Migrate

New Bio-Resin Recycles Wind Turbine Blades, U.S. National Parks Gets $100 Million To Restore Ecosystems, and more!

Zanandi Botes
September 09, 2024

Hello to all our wonderful subscribers! Let’s start this week with a hop and a skip as we look at some Good News from around the world. Today we have a heartwarming story of humans helping a previously extinct bird species to migrate again, a new and exciting bio-resin that can recycle old wind turbine blades and a promising vaccine that may help eliminate opioid addiction. Enjoy, and thanks for reading!

🐦 Previously Extinct Bird Species Learning To Migrate
🩸 New Non-Invasive Technology Monitors Blood Pressure
♻️ New Bio-Resin Recycles Wind Turbine Blades
💉 New Vaccine Could Curb Opioid Addiction
🌳 U.S. National Parks Gets $100 Million To Restore Ecosystems

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION 🦁

Previously Extinct Bird Species Learning To Migrate

fluffandshutter via Shutterstock

Northern Bald Ibis disappeared from Europe
Currently 300 birds in Europe thanks to restoration
Scientists are teaching them migration routes
New method could help other species too

Up until the 17th century, the Northern Bald Ibis was a widespread and native bird species to Northern Africa, the Middle East and Central Europe. These majestic birds, however, saw their habitats destroyed while they were being hunted to the point of near extinction. As a result, the species completely disappeared from the natural landscapes of Europe for 300 years. However, they’ve been reintroduced to the continent in the past two decades thanks to conservation efforts led by the European Union. There are currently around 300 Northern Bald Ibis birds on the continent.

The problem is that these birds have forgotten their migration routes. Not only that, but climate change has made it difficult for them to fly certain routes due to more extreme weather. The Northern Bald Ibis usually migrates in August in search of wintering grounds, but many of the newly introduced birds have flown in the wrong direction and, most unfortunately, died. Luckily, a group of scientists have been acting as “foster parents,” teaching 36 of these birds to migrate again! Using an ultralight aircraft, the scientists fly alongside their flock of birds as they guide them on their forgotten route between Austria and Spain.

Associated Press

The birds know and trust their foster parents. They were taken from their breeding colonies in Austria as young chicks to imprint on their new “parents.” This year marks the 17th migration trip between these scientists and the birds, with the journey lasting around 50 days. When the birds reach their destination, they become independent and do not need their foster parents anymore. The scientists hope that this method — the first of its kind — could be used in the future to help other endangered species migrate safely and thrive in their natural environments.