I almost wish I'd been able to write this blog two weeks ago, as it would have been a perfect story for Valentine's Day - as indeed would be the recent proposal in the Wildlife Lookout that was reported via our Trip Adviser page!
This, though, is a story about a different type of ring, but it's origins on Adriatic coast of Italy merely add to the romanticism.
Our story begins (or perhaps I should really say ends) back in early January, when a birdwatcher walking along Minsmere's beach discovered a metal bird ring along the tide line. They brought it back to the visitor centre where my colleague Alex began the process of detective work that helped us to learn more about the ring's former owner.
As with all metal bird rings, this one bore the contact details of the organisation that had ringed it, which in this case showed that it originated somewhere in Italy. Alex went onto the EUring website, entered the details, and awaited feedback from Italy. Last week Alex received an email confirming the ringing details and subsequent life history of the bird in question.
The ring had been fitted to a yellow-legged gull nestling on 8 June 2011 at Salina Di Comacchio in Italy. This is a large coastal lagoon, situated a few miles north of Ravenna and south of the Po Delta, on Italy's Adriatic coast, in the heart of the yellow-legged gull's Mediterranean breeding range. The bird had not been reported subsequently until its ring was picked up at Minsmere.
Italy's Adriatic coast, with Salina di Comacchio visible between Ravenna amd the Po Delta (marked green)
Yellow-legged gulls used to be very rare visitors to the UK, but in recent years have occurred much more frequently, and several birds can usually be found around Minsmere and nearby estuaries during the winter months. As the ring was found along the tideline, we can't say for certain that this gull actually died at Minsmere, although it almost certainly died somewhere within the North Sea area. There was also no evidence of how it died, but we do know that many gulls suffer from botulism and other similar diseases, while others die of entanglement in fishing lines. It is also notable that the ring was found after a period of onshore gales, and many seabirds are known to starve in such conditions.
While a sad end to the life of this particular gull, it does once again highlight the importance of ringing in helping us to understand more about the life cycles, longevity and migrations of many of our birds.
A yellow-legged gull by Jon Evans
A sad end indeed. I wonder what made it come north? I don't know if yellow-legged gulls are migratory but it seems weird that one would come north for the winter instead of the opposite direction.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.