Rare birds - Offspring in the rock face: Northern bald ibis chicks show themselves
In a limestone cliff by the Bodensee, Waldrapp offspring have appeared. The first chicks of the rare migratory birds were hatched at the end of May, announced Anne-Gabriela Schmalstieg from the so-called Waldrapp Team in Überlingen. They couldn't be seen right away because they were too small.
Schmalstieg couldn't specify exactly how many there were. "I'm currently estimating between twelve and fourteen young birds." The first ones were beginning to develop flight skills. First flying attempts could follow soon. "They don't have names yet." That will come when they are ringed.
Waldrapp Decoy Birds from the 3D Printer
The hope for chicks in the cliff was high this year. Five breeding pairs had nested above the Bodensee. To attract the animals to the cliff, the bird wardens had placed Waldrapp decoy birds from a 3D printer there. The cliff was likely to be abandoned again around mid-August, Schmalstieg said.
The Waldrapp (Geronticus eremita) is considered one of the rarest birds in the world by nature conservation organizations. The species likes to breed near bodies of water at limestone cliffs and steep slopes. The large migratory birds once lived widely in the Alpine and Mediterranean regions.
The dark birds with their distinctive, crest-like feathers on their heads and hooked beaks were practically extinct in the wild. The Waldrapps at Lake Constance belong to one of several colonies that are part of a reintroduction project in the Alpine region. The Waldrapp Team manages the reintroduction. Waldrapps lived in Überlingen among other places up until the 17th century. Then, bird hunters were their downfall.
The limestone cliff where the Waldrapp chicks hatched is located by Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The 3D-printed Waldrapp decoy birds helped attract the animals to the rock face. These migratory birds have been making a comeback in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg due to reintroduction projects. The steep slopes and bodies of water near cliffs provide an ideal environment for these large, distinctive birds with their hooked beaks and crest-like feathers. Despite their reintroduction, the Waldrapp remains one of the rarest birds in the world, with colonies like the one at Lake Constance playing a crucial role in their survival.
