Ringed birds.

[DaiTheDragon]

I took a photpgraph of a Chaffinch today and it had a ring on its leg. I was winering how far a bird like a Chaffinch would travel from where it was originally hatched. Also who rings them and for what purpose.

Dai

[GuyF]

Chaffinches can vary because I think there are quite a few residents in Britain, which won't travel particularly far in their lifetimes. But in winter the numbers are boosted by migrants from Scandinavia and Central Europe.
It is probably one of the bird observatories that ringed it, there are quite a few around Britain, and they do it to find out more about movements of the birds I think.
Guy

[Barbara]

Hi Dai

I get a few birds who are rung visiting my garden. I haven't a clue how far birds fly from where they have hatched I'm afraid. I have read that bird ringers are highly trained and licensed volunteers so there must be a least one volunteer in my area

[almostnormal]

it might have been an independent ringer as well, i know a couple of people who run ringing sites, and they ring any bird that lands in their nets. all the information then gets sent to the BTO who record it, and then record recurrences. helps to track the ages and travel distances of all the birds, and also migration routes. i think chaffinches are relatively sedentary birds in comparison to most finches, but they'll move a fair bit in the winter in search of food!

[Susie]

There is a two year "apprenticeship" to become a BTO bird ringer. They are a great bunch of very experienced and competent volunteers.

[rlchew]

Could someone answer a question please?

I think my English is pretty good but is it "ringed" or "rung"? .... I have never known

Richard

[Barbara]

Originally Posted by rlchew

Could someone answer a question please?

I think my English is pretty good but is it "ringed" or "rung"? .... I have never known

Richard

I haven't a clue richew. I use both like 'that bird has been ringed' or 'that bird is rung' I thought both were right until now.

Now I'm confused

[JeffH]

I think it's 'ringed' in relation to birds and 'rung' in relation to bells

As to Dai's original question, many local Bird Clubs have ringing groups. I was a member of Cambridge Bird Club during my twitching days (many years ago now) and CBC's ringing group regularly had mist nets set up at Wicken Fen for ringing sessions.

The ringing provides invaluable data as described earlier by almostnormal.

Jeff

[at]

the correct term is ringed. I used to get shouted at for saying rung.

the bto web site has all the details including reporting ringed birds
Ringing Home Page

C R birding also has a list of registerd schemes, not necessarily in the UK
http://www.cr-birding.be/

at

[eeyore]

Where does rang come into this

I rung that bird
I rang that bird
I ringed that bird

the bottom one sounds wrong but i think it actually the correct usage in this context

with regard to finches wearing rings it could also be a captive bird that has escaped - captive birds are close ringed at hatching to differentiate them from their wild bbred cousins

you also see a lot of lbjs - particularly tree sparrows, wearing colour rings - this is always a sign of biological recording and you should note the colour ring combination and pass the the bto ( ring combinations are read left lower, left upper, right upper , right lower)