Have you every wondered who rings the swans at Radipole Lake? Today I found out! I spend a couple of hours with Derek who rings the swans at Radipole and around the Weymouth are. He invited me to join him in checking the swans and ringing any of last year's young that had not yet been done.
The first job was to feed the ducks to lure the swans in. They were all up near the bridge, as soon as the feeding began they come done like a swan flotilla. It was quite a sight to see. While Derek was feeding the swans he was checking for any cygnets who do not have rings and any who had rings that were damage.
Derek managed to successfully pick out a young swan without a ring from the rest. The swan is wrapped up in a jacket to keep the wings under control, to help calm the swan down and be as comfortable as possible. It is important at this point that the swan faces away from the others swans to keep the distress to a minimum. It wise though to wear waterproof clothing, the chances of being sprayed with swan poo at this point is very high!
Next a silver ring with the number goes on the left leg and a bright yellow ring goes on the right leg. The yellow ring is much easier to spot through binoculars. Derek records the ring numbers in the log book.
The swan is weighed, the weight recorded in the log book. This one weighed 8.5 kg. The swan is then released, our swan is the cygnet in the centre of the photo.
The next swan that Derek caught had a ring missing on its leg. The silver ring was there in the left leg which identified it as an Abbotsbury swan. These swans have white rings rather than the yellow rings used at Radipole and Weymouth. Derek put a new white ring on the leg. This swan was also weighed, as it was an adult it weighed in at 10.5 k. Derek is doing a great job of tracking and monitoring our swans. So now you know. If you should see Derek do stop by to say hello and like me he may invite you to be his afternoon assistant.
For information on any of our forthcoming events, contact Radipole Lake Discovery Centre or pop in and see us. Hot and cold refreshments and snacks available,
Telephone: 01305 778313
E-mail: Weymouth.reserves@rspb.org.uk
Website: www.rspb.org.uk/radipolelake