Birds of a feather The flying scientists showing ibis the way home

Extinct in central Europe for 300 years, a flock of northern bald ibis is following a light aircraft on a migration route from Austria to Spain

- Phoebe Weston

The northern bald ibis was extinct in central Europe for 300 years. Now, it has returned and scientist "foster parents" aboard a tiny plane are teaching the birds to fly their long-forgotten migration routes.

Thirty-six of these endangered birds are following an ultralight aircraft 2,800km from Austria to Spain, on a trip that could take up to 50 days to complete. During the flight, human foster parents sit on the back of the microlight, waving and shouting encouragement to the birds. Biologist Johannes Fritz-who came up with the idea - pilots the small aircraft, which | north Africa, the Arabian peninsula has a small fan-like motor on the back and yellow parachute keeping it aloft.

It is the first attempt to reintroduce a migratory species using this technique, said Fritz. "It's an almost surreal experience, to be up there in the sky with these birds, experiencing them in the air, perfectly shaped for flying. It's a touching and extraordinary experience."

Fritz was inspired by the 1996 film Fly Away Home in which the main character flies an ultralight plane to show orphaned geese their migratory path. The film was based on the work of "Father Goose" Bill Lishman, a naturalist who taught Canadian geese in the same way in 1988.