Anyone who knows me knows I’m not a fan of an early morning. So at 5 to 6 in the morning - an hour late - I fell out of bed, donned my beloved bobble hat and peddled up the road to the Media hide to join in this week’s Bird Ringing survey.
(Robin, Photo Credit Jennifer McDougall)
Along the woodland walk and the reed beds just beyond a large string of nets had been erected. They were tied up to trees with what appeared to be all the string in the known universe and invisible to birds (and sleepy volunteer) eyes. The team were set up and ready to catch in HQ Media where a pop up research station had been set up with wing rulers, scales and rings all ready to go.
(A two weekish old Wren, now lovingly named “Poo-zilla”, Photo credit Kirsty Griffiths)
The process was easy enough with the net checked at regular intervals and birds gently released into a cotton bag in order to keep them calm and relaxed during transport. Each bird was recorded under its species, measured, weighted, sexed and aged before being released.
(Photo Credits Martin Edgson)
By participating on Mersehead in bird ringing surveys it allows for a vast, detailed record of individual species to be complied as the years go by. Where a listening and visual survey may give us the gist of what’s about and a little information about it, bird ringing opens up a wealth of potential in studying much finer details about each species. By seeing the bird up close we can sex them, see if it’s brooding and check the age, each of which helps inform us about the species in that areas nesting habits and survival rates.
(Left: Tree Creeper, Right: Coal Tit Photo Credit Jennifer McDougall)
It was a fantastic morning and a great opportunity to pick some expert brains on all things birds. We recorded and rung Blackcaps, a few nippy Blackbirds and a Tree Creeper (definitely a new favourite bird) but the bird that stole the show was undoubtedly the Greater Spotted Woodpecker. A beautiful bird with the most vivid red feathers I think I’ve ever seen I felt absolutely privileged ... to let someone else hold it as there was no way I was letting it poke holes in me.
What I mean is it was a lovely, well behaved bird. It wasn’t an absolutely grump at all...
(Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Photo Credit Jennifer McDougall)
(Bluetit, photo credit Martin Edgson)
Jennifer
Residential Volunteer