Bird ringing etc.........

[Jonny]

Hello everybody........I went out mothing last night in an area that has not been done for many years and despite the rain comming and going we did well and trapped loads of moths and also loads of hornets, one of which stung the warden. When we got there, there was a guy doing some bird ringing, he had a couple of large nets which were set up near where the birds were roosting, I think he got 16 swallows and some other birds too. I was interested in watching as I have never seen it done before and was asking lots of questions, like what is the furthest away, birds have been reported etc. I was told about a juvenile kingfisher that was ringed in horsham and was found dead weeks later in the pyrenees. I did not even know that kingfishers traveled far.
There are about 2000 bird ringers in this country and they don't just ring the bird, they measure it and sometimes weigh it too, and it is all recorded.
Does anyone on here ring birds..........

[wildone]

To read more about ringing birds go to the BTO site at

http://www.bto.org/ringing/ringinfo/index.htm

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by wildone

To read more about ringing birds go to the BTO site at

http://www.bto.org/ringing/ringinfo/index.htm

Excellent.........Thanks for that Winnie..........

[John]

I used to help ring Storm Petrels on one of the uninhabited islands of the north Scottish coast. We had petrels that had come from South Africa, Portugal and other places as well. You can also age them if they had been rung before. We had at least one bird that had been rung 30+ years before we trapped it. I think the oldest trapped bird belongs to a Manx Shearwater but I can't remember how long that is now.

You would be surprised how far birds like Blue Tits can travel. I seem to recall that one was caught hundreds of miles away on the continent and some may travel further.

It is a fascinating subject and can be very rewarding to.

John

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by John

I used to help ring Storm Petrels on one of the uninhabited islands of the north Scottish coast. We had petrels that had come from South Africa, Portugal and other places as well. You can also age them if they had been rung before. We had at least one bird that had been rung 30+ years before we trapped it. I think the oldest trapped bird belongs to a Manx Shearwater but I can't remember how long that is now.

You would be surprised how far birds like Blue Tits can travel. I seem to recall that one was caught hundreds of miles away on the continent and some may travel further.

It is a fascinating subject and can be very rewarding to.

John

It is fascinating and I want to go again and observe/help. The guy doing it last night used to do it for a living, but now does it for a hobby, if that is the right word. There can't be that many trades that people give up and then carry on as a hobby. I bet it is great when you get feedback from other places, about a bird you ringed, rang ?............

[wildone]

I seem to remember hearing that the Manx Shearwater was in it's 40's. Trouble is I can't remember where I heard it so that I can check.

The only Grasshopper Warbler I have ever seen was in the hand of a ringer. I cannot go to the nets but wait where he does his recording and puts the rings on the birds. Have learned so much it is like having a tutorial to myself as often there is nobody else there.

Anybody able to get to Peterborough on Sunday 3rd Sept. at 10am. the local bird club are holding their annual Bird Fest. The bird ringer will be at the end of the nature reserve, weather permitting, from just after dawn. Also for newbies (or even old hands) to birding there will be conducted walks. It was on one such that got me hooked.

http://www.pbc.codehog.co.uk/

[chunkychambers]

Ringing is a way of gaining vital information about birds, and using it to their benefit.
My brother-in-law is an avid birder and spends countless hours ringing and logging the information gained, and on several times I have accompanied him,

I enjoy the experience and believe that overall its a good thing, however I wonder about the stress being put on the birds, being trapped in a fine mesh net then being handled and measured and weighed by us can't be pleasant.

I put the point for discussion as an avid birder myself

[chunkychambers]

I thought I'd make it clear that my brother-in-law rings in his capacity as authorised ranger

[wildone]

Once the birds are taken from the nets they are put into individual cotton bags and they are calm when the ringer gets back to his work station. It only takes a couple of minutes to deal with each bird and they are mostly calm and accepting of what the ringer is doing. Occasionally one will protest but there is no fluttering of wings or anything to indicate the birds are stressed. I am surprised having seen a ringer at work that you should think the birds suffer in any way.

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by chunkychambers

Ringing is a way of gaining vital information about birds, and using it to their benefit.
My brother-in-law is an avid birder and spends countless hours ringing and logging the information gained, and on several times I have accompanied him,

I enjoy the experience and believe that overall its a good thing, however I wonder about the stress being put on the birds, being trapped in a fine mesh net then being handled and measured and weighed by us can't be pleasant.

I put the point for discussion as an avid birder myself

I wondered when this would come up.........The swallows that were caught last night seemed to instantly become calm and were handled expertly (I was not allowed to hold them) They were put in cloth sacks to begin with and then taken out, ringed, measured and released. As someone who has never seen this before, I can say that, to me the birds seemed to take it all in their stride and all seemed fine to me. I was told that the ring on them is like us wearing a watch, thats all. As you can probably gather, I was well impressed with it all. I was told that blue tits are one of the worst birds to ring though as they keep on nipping at you and are quite liveley..............

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by wildone

Once the birds are taken from the nets they are put into individual cotton bags and they are calm when the ringer gets back to his work station. It only takes a couple of minutes to deal with each bird and they are mostly calm and accepting of what the ringer is doing. Occasionally one will protest but there is no fluttering of wings or anything to indicate the birds are stressed. I am surprised having seen a ringer at work that you should think the birds suffer in any way.

Lol..........I must type quicker..........

[chunkychambers]

Yes I know and agree, I just put the point up for discussion.
Have you ever seen a raptor caught in the net?

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by chunkychambers

Yes I know and agree, I just put the point up for discussion.
Have you ever seen a raptor caught in the net?

Yes, I would welcome some imput from any thoughts on the subject, as it is something I know very little about, but am very interested.
There was a sparrowhawk flying near the nets last night, but was not caught. I was told that some birds can fly straight through the nets, would this hurt them ?..........

[wildone]

I personally have never seen one but I know that Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Tawny Owl have all been rung at Ferry Meadows. For me is the interesting news of birds which have travelled many miles and been caught in the nets in another country. Also to have birds caught here which originally were rung the other side of the continent or even further afield, not always migrants either.

[chunkychambers]

For me it was studying the birds at close hand, the primaries, secondaries, distinguishing marks and body shapes.On one session I had the opportunity to compare Willow Tit and Marsh Tit!!
In the field through the bins things like these are impossible to see.

[rlchew]

Originally Posted by John

I used to help ring Storm Petrels on one of the uninhabited islands of the north Scottish coast. We had petrels that had come from South Africa, Portugal and other places as well. You can also age them if they had been rung before. We had at least one bird that had been rung 30+ years before we trapped it. I think the oldest trapped bird belongs to a Manx Shearwater but I can't remember how long that is now.

You would be surprised how far birds like Blue Tits can travel. I seem to recall that one was caught hundreds of miles away on the continent and some may travel further.

It is a fascinating subject and can be very rewarding to.

John

John

I remember seeing Stormies flying in to Mousa in Shetland when I was up there in 2003. Amazing birds and I can fully understand why you enjoyed your ringing experience (I seem to remember you providing a very good account of this some months ago here on WAB).

Re: the long-lived Manxie and a long-lived Razorbill .... see here.

Richard

[Tornado]

Originally Posted by chunkychambers

Have you ever seen a raptor caught in the net?

Most raptors if rung will have been done so as young birds still in the nest. I recently watched bird-ringing at the British Birdwatching Fair Rutland Water, it is fascinating and, as already stated if you are an avid birder the info you can pick up from watching and listening to those who ring is excellent first hand knowledge. This is where I first learned that the raptors were rung as nestlings, as most adults are extremely wary.
Tornado

[John]

Originally Posted by rlchew

John

I remember seeing Stormies flying in to Mousa in Shetland when I was up there in 2003. Amazing birds and I can fully understand why you enjoyed your ringing experience (I seem to remember you providing a very good account of this some months ago here on WAB).

Re: the long-lived Manxie and a long-lived Razorbill .... see here.

Richard

I forgot about that thread I started. I have searched it out and here it is. You will have to have a lot of patience to read it as it is very very long.

John

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

In most instances i agree with the ringing of birds in this country, particularly the declining species, so that we are able to keep an eye on movements and changes in there population in specific areas, obviously if we know the areas certain birds are doing well, it helps us recreate these areas in other parts

The only instances i don't really agree with ringing is when a rare bird is sited, then ringed. We had an instance near to me, where a Sora was spotted for a number of days, it was then caught and ringed, never to be seen again. I can't see the point of this type of ringing myself.

[John]

Originally Posted by John

I forgot about that thread I started. I have searched it out and here it is. You will have to have a lot of patience to read it as it is very very long.

John

Oops, I forgot to post the link.

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...t=storm+petrel