Endangered birds relearn to fly

The distinctive Northern Bald Ibis, hunted essentially to extinction by the 17th century, has been revived by breeding and rewilding efforts over the last two decades.

The efforts of the Waldrappteam, a conservation and research group based in Austria, brought the Central European population from zero to almost 300 since the start of their project in 2002.

But while Northern Bald Ibises still display the natural urge to migrate, they don't know which direction to fly without the guidance of wild-born elders.

Instead, team members act as foster parents and flight instructors in the hopes that the "imprinted" birds will trust their foster parents enough to follow them along the migration route.

The foster parents sit on the back of a microlight aircraft, piloted by biologist Johannes Fritz, waving and shouting encouragement through a bullhorn as it flies through the air followed by three dozen birds.

Fritz was inspired by "Father Goose" Bill Lishman, a naturalist who taught Canadian geese to fly alongside his ultra-light plane beginning in 1988.