Ringing

hi SB

Wow what a beauty and a little show off - 2 rings for the price of one

I have seen the same thing on Turnstones once. The colours of the rings where different on each lag though like your picture of one red and one Yellow - I think!

Never seen two rings on mute Swans though they have rings either on the left or the right leg depending on the bird.

Wonder if it is to do with the sex of the bird along with the individual number - so one on each leg.  Maybe the legs are two short to contain both rings for reading purposes.

Can you read the numbers on the rings?

Regards

Kathy and Dave

Unknown said:

Hi,

I saw this pied wagtail at Lodmoor in Dorset a few weeks ago.  Poor little devil looks like it's wearing pink leg warmers!  I hope it is a girl.  Why would it have two rings - anybody know?  Maybe it's to keep it balanced.   Or maybe it just wanted a matching pair.  Lol!  

Hi Kathy,

No, I can't read the numbers as the sun was so bright that when you enlarge the pic it just looks dazzling.

I have another shot -

Hi SB

I see what you mean

That is the problem with rings on smaller birds they are near on impossible to read at times. You need bionic eyesight. 

The only saving grace about them is that the rings are good if the bird is not found alive anymore

The picture I have of the Turnstone take at Norfolk last year 'looks' although it has two different coloured rings on one leg {bird on left}.

I also have a picture if a Black Headed Gull with a silver ring on one leg, but i will need to search for that picture if you want to see it

Regards

Kathy and Dave

Hi SB

Buzzard's your man to answer this one. He's involved with ringing all the time.

It does seem strange to have two rings. The other thing that looks unusual is that the rings seem very long for such a small bird - as you say they look like leg warmers.

It'll be interesting to find out about this one.

TJ

Unknown said:

Why would it have two rings - anybody know?  Maybe it's to keep it balanced.   Or maybe it just wanted a matching pair.  Lol!  

Hi SB,

Some ringing projects for particular species use colour ringing to allow individual birds to be identified without being caught.

The Pied Wagtail in your photo has four rings and will be a species that is been studied by a ringer in the area you photographed it.

The ringer has seven colour rings to choose from. Black, Blue, Green, Lime, Orange, Red, White and Yellow.

The ringer should normally ring the bird with the metal BTO ring on the left leg, they would then use one colour ring for that particular year which is put on the left leg above the BTO ring.

So for instance if Red is been used for 2010 all birds in the study would show a Red ring above the BTO metal ring.

Two coloured rings are then placed above each other on the right leg, again the ringer would use colour variations for each individual bird. Carefully recording each variation so they have accurate records and data for the study.

Ringing is carried out by skilled ringers with the utmost consideration for the birds’ welfare.

The rings have little effect on the birds because there relative to the bird’s weight, ringing allows for the study of how many juvenile birds leave the nest and survive to become adults. It also allows studies to monitor how many adults survive the stresses of breeding, migration and severe weather. Changes in survival rates and also helps us to understand the causes of population declines.

I hope I have given you a somewhat better understanding of the colour ringing process and the scientific reasons for these specific studies!

Regards Buzzard

Hi Sarum Bat

Most importantly, don't forget to send in the details of your bird to www.ring.ac

You'll be sent information on where and when it was ringed and if it's been seen anywhere else. And the person who ringed it will be notified that you've seen it (you'll make them very happy!)

Katie

Good Morning Buzzard,

Thank you very much for explaining.  That's really interesting.  I have enlarged the photo and I can clearly see that it has a silver ring and a red ring on the left leg now.  I knew that ringing was to enable ID for research purposes but I had  presumed that it would be a metal ring with a number.  Does this system of coloured rings also include a number?  I don't normally think to look out for rings but I shall do so in future.

I do admire ringers for your skilled and dedicated work and I realise that great care would be taken with the birds, you wouldn't do the work if you didn't care.  I have recently joined the BTO and have been reading about their work and training courses.  I only wish that I had the knowledge and experience to get involved myself. 

Thanks again.

Best wishes,

SB

Good explanation, Buzzard. Thanks for that, most interesting. And thanks also to Katie for the link to register sightings. That's two new things I've learned today.

Well done SB for starting this thread.

TJ