For the first time in over four centuries, the striking silhouette of the northern bald ibis is gracing the skies of Catalonia. A landmark reintroduction programme saw the release of 19 of these critically endangered birds into the wild on Saturday at the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park, marking a historic moment for wildlife conservation in the region.
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With its glossy black plumage, long curved bill, and featherless head, the northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita) was once widespread across the Mediterranean, but experts declared it extinct on the European continent around 400 years ago. This weekend’s release, part of an initiative led by the Fundació Alive with support from the Generalitat de Catalunya, aims to establish a new, stable colony and secure the species’ future.
“The image we see today in this Empordà sky has not been seen for more than 400 years,” said Sílvia Paneque, the Minister for Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition, at the event. She described the achievement as the result of “decades of commitment, knowledge, and perseverance.”
A Story of Innovation and Serendipity
The journey of the ibis back to Catalonia is a remarkable tale of human ingenuity and a touch of luck. The species’ global recovery heavily relies on a pioneering technique developed by Austrian biologist Johannes Fritz and his Waldrappteam. This method uses ultralight-assisted migration: young, captive-raised birds learn to migrate by following their “foster mothers” – biologists in yellow jumpers – in a microlight aircraft.
This technique has successfully established a migratory population that travels from Austria over the Alps to winter in Italy. However, the plan to establish a Catalan population originated from an accident. In 2022, storms threw a young ibis on an assisted flight off course. It landed in Catalonia before eventually joining a reintroduced sedentary population in Cádiz, Andalusia. This unexpected detour, reported in La Vanguardia, inspired Fritz and local ornithologists. They began to consider the Empordà wetlands as a vital ‘hinge’ connecting the Central European and Andalusian populations.
Following successful trial migrations through the Alt Empordà region in 2023 and 2024, the plan for a permanent colony solidified.
A Phased Return to the Wild
The 19 birds released on Saturday are the first of 59 specimens currently residing at a large aviary at Torre d’en Mornau, near Castelló d’Empúries. This first group, which arrived from the Jerez Zoo as chicks last summer, has undergone months of careful acclimatisation.
“During July, the ibis undertook controlled flights to recognise the territory, feeding points, and rest areas,” explained Bernat Garrigós, director of the Fundació Alive. “We believe this step is essential for the ibis, after their release, to want to establish themselves here and begin their process of consolidation as a stable population.”
The newly freed birds will have access to two rehabilitated old silos near the aviary, providing a safe place to rest as they adapt to life in the wild. The project’s next phases will see the gradual release of the remaining birds: a group that arrived from Austria via assisted migration last September, and another 11 from various European zoos. Officials hope the presence of the first group will create a ‘call effect’, encouraging subsequent arrivals to remain in the area.
A Historic Day for Conservation
The ultimate goal of the programme is to establish a self-sustaining population of 30 to 40 breeding pairs in the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà over the next seven to eight years. This would create a crucial stepping stone, strengthening the genetic diversity and resilience of the species across Europe, which currently has reintroduced populations of around 300 birds in Andalusia and 300 in Central Europe.
Jordi Sargatal, the Secretary for Ecological Transition, called the release a “historic and very emotional” day. The project represents a significant step forward in Catalonia’s broader environmental and rewilding efforts, which also include investments in sustainable energy, such as the public acquisition of the Casserres solar park.
The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Fundació Alive, the Generalitat, the Barcelona Zoo Foundation, the Gaditana Society of Natural History, and the Jerez Zoo. As these ancient birds once again take flight over the Catalan wetlands, their return symbolises a hopeful future for one of Europe’s most threatened species.
