Wildlife UK Forum - Discuss the UK countryside and wildlife

Does anyone know anything about 'bird ringing'? Skippy took a further pic of the linnet this time on the feeder at the front of the house & low & behold it has a ring on it.

Its quite difficult to see, but is the ring on the left foot of the bird? I have never seen a bird have anything like that on it.

Yes , you are perfectly correct. I know that at the visitors centre at a place called 'Moses Gate' which is down the river valley from us , once netted birds to ring them but I never knew anyone to ask why.
Perhaps the more birdy people than us have the answer.
I have attached a further pic where you may see it better.

The only reasons I can think of for tagging a bird like this would be for racing, which seems unlikely with this kind of bird, or for some sort of number tracking. Linnets are ranked as red status by the RSPB, so this would seem the most likely explanation.

I had to look up what Red Status meant but as we discussed it we didn't think that it was endangered as we thought we probably had lots in Lancashire. I feel quite honoured!

There are still a fair few linnets around, but they are on the decline, which is why they are calssed under red status. You don't see too many around, so your lucky to have them visiting you.

It's a very common occurrence in the United States.  Various reasons for ringing are to study migratory paths, and to count for status purposes (i.e., is it endangered?).  

I found an explanation for your linnet here:

http://www.bto.org/ringing/ringinfo/ces/index.htm

If you go to the home page it's possible to report a ringed bird, but you would need to see if you can get a closer view.

Kingfisher

Thanks for that Kingfisher , very interesting I don't think that I will be able to see the number by telescope as I can't even see clearly through binoculars!! I don't fancy finding it dead neither!

Bird ringing is still commonly carried out at a number of sites in the UK, e.g. Spurn and see the BTO also. Only licensed bird ringers are allowed to carry this out. The birds are cought in Heligoland traps, weighed, logged, ringed and released. This allows data to be collected on movement and lifespan of birds

Do you know in what kind of numbers birds are ringed like this? I haven't seen it before, maybe thats just from lack of looking though.

No, it's not something that I've been involved with. Had a ringer in the shop the other day, I think you have to be a particular sort of person to be one! Have you tried a Google search?

Did a quick search, I think you'll get your answers here: http://www.bto.org/ringing/index.htm

We looked at the website, very interesting. I had seen someone doing it but never really understood what it was all about & certainly never seen a wild bird with one on. Someone at the country fair last weekend said to mention it down at the local  conservation centre. It looks like from the website that it can be upto 2 years to train as a bird ringer.

Been trawaling the older threads and came across this one. Im a bird ringer. What do you want to know.

ps. Ive ringed 100's of linnets, they are quite easy to catch as they are attracted to tape lures.

Heres a bird in the Hand. Any guesses as to what it is?
[attachment=287]

Corncrake?