Northern Bald ibis fitted with satellite tags – Conservation funding boost

One of just 5 remaining Northern Bald ibis in Syria. Credit RSPBimages.com

July 2009. Two Northern Bald Ibis were caught at the beginning of July and fitted with satellite tags in the Syrian Desert. As one of the birds is a sub-adult, it is hoped that they will now lead researchers to their wintering grounds.

General Ali Hamoud, General Manager of the Desert Commission who oversees the Syrian Government's protection programme said ‘This is excellent news. We hope that this tagging success will lead us to uncover the mystery of where the young birds winter so that we can undertake conservation measures there. So few young birds return that it seems they face difficulties to survive at present'.

No young for 2 years
This success comes after a disappointing breeding season amid a second year of serious drought in the Syrian Desert. Despite heroic efforts by local wardens and Bedouin rangers who have mounted 24 hour patrols and provided water points, no young were reared for the second successive year. The known population currently stands at two breeding pairs and one sub-adult bird.

Conservation boost for critically endangered bird
One of the rarest birds in North Africa and the Middle East, the Northern Bald ibis has received a major conservation boost from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

Once revered by the Egyptian Pharaohs, Northern Bald Ibis has become extinct in the majority of its former range in North Africa, the European Alps and the Middle East, and is now listed as Critically Endangered the highest threat level of extinction. However, ongoing conservation efforts will now benefit from a three year grant from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

During a visit to Monaco, BirdLife Honorary President HIH Princess Takamado of Japan offered HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco the title of BirdLife Species Champion for the Northern Bald Ibis. This is a special recognition that BirdLife grants to individuals, companies or foundations that significantly support targeted conservation efforts for threatened species under the BirdLife Preventing Extinction Programme.

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco commented, "I am delighted to support BirdLife's conservation efforts for this iconic and Critically Endangered species, and am honoured to be their Species Champion."

Just 5 birds left in Syria
Globally, fewer than 500 individuals of these birds remain in the wild in two separate populations, one in Morocco and the other in Syria. The species has been driven to near extinction by a combination of threats including human persecution, loss of steppe and extensive farmland, pesticide poisoning, human disturbance and development.

Until recently the ibis was considered extinct in the wild in its eastern range, but a small wild colony of birds was discovered in 2002 in a desert location in Syria. Only two pairs currently breed in the colony and there are plans to supplement the population with individuals captive bred in Turkey.

Young birds migration is unknown
While the Moroccan population is resident, the Eastern population is migratory. Northern Bald Ibis's migratory habits had baffled conservationists for years but in 2006, BirdLife and the Syrian Government, tracked the 6,100 km round trip of adult birds from Syria, finding new wintering grounds in Ethiopia. But young birds were never seen on migration and scientists fear they face mystery threats on an entirely different over-wintering route.

The support of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation will help continue the work of protecting the ibis colonies, monitoring and tracking individuals as they migrate, and hopefully elucidate one of the last remaining mysteries; the migratory route and wintering grounds of juvenile birds.

BirdLife CEO Marco Lambertini and Bernard Fautrier CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation have also signed a MoU that commits the two organisations to increase communications and collaboration for the benefit of biodiversity and the environment.

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation aims to be a catalyst for environmental projects. It promotes the sustainable and equitable management of natural resources and places the individual at the centre of its projects. It encourages the implementation of innovative and ethical solutions in three main areas: climate change, safeguarding biodiversity and access to water.

For more about species chmpions, click www.birdlife.org/extinction or email species.champions@birdlife.org