Bird Ringing
Find out how bird ringing helps us learn about wildlife.
Permit holders who regularly visit Linford Lakes Nature Reserve may spot something unusual as they make their way around the hides - fine nets suspended between poles at various locations. These nets are part of a long-established form of wildlife monitoring which has been used to learn about the survival, productivity and movements of birds for over 100 years. (Photo: Jay)
Bird ringing, as we know it today, was started in 1899 by a Danish schoolteacher. However, attempts at individually marking birds to understand their movements have been recorded since Roman times!
The Ringing Scheme in Britain was set up in 1909 and has been run by the British Trust for Ornithology since its founding in the 1930s. The question that the first bird ringers set out to answer was, “Where do our summer visitors spend the winter, and where do our winter visitors go to breed?” Since then, we have learned so much more. One of the crucial questions today is how global climate change is impacting bird life. (Photo: Song Thrush)
What does bird ringing involve?
Birds that fly into the nets are gently removed and placed into cotton bags to keep them safe and secure until they are ready to be processed.
First, the species is identified, then a suitably sized ring with a unique identification number is placed on the bird’s leg. The rings are very small and light, weighing less than a mouthful of food, and decades of ringing data show that they do not hinder the bird in any way.
Next, the age and sex of the bird are recorded, along with measurements such as wing length and weight. The birds are released as soon as possible, and handling times are limited to the minimum needed to collect the necessary data.
The safety of the birds is always the number one priority, and trainee ringers must go through at least 2 years under the close supervision of a qualified trainer. Only after passing an independent assessment and demonstrating the necessary skills will they be able to apply for their own license.
The process does not end once the birds have been ringed; to learn more, the birds must be recaptured, which enables us to start building a picture of where they move to and how long they live. With the camera lenses available today, it is also sometimes possible to read rings in the field without the need to re-capture the bird!
All the data collected is entered into a national database, which is used by various environmental and conservation bodies to monitor changes in populations and behaviours. This, in turn, helps to shape policies and target efforts to ensure that available resources are directed towards those species that are most in need. (Photo: Cuckoo)
So, if on your next visit to Linford Lakes you happen to see the bird ringers in action, please feel free to stop and say hello. They are a friendly bunch, despite being somewhat sleep-deprived, and they will be more than happy to show you what they are up to (especially if you offer them cake). Please note that a permit is needed to visit Linford Lakes Nature Reserve.
Thank you to the volunteer bird ringers who provided this information and continue to give their time to contribute to bird records.
Learn more about the species which call our parks home, what we do to protect them and how you can support local wildlife.
