Wiltshire Ornithological Society

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Bird Ringing in Wiltshire

 

 

Bird ringing in Wiltshire is very much on the up. The West Wilts Ringing Group and The Cotswold Water Park Ringing Group are the largest ringing groups covering the area though we are blessed with some very dedicated and active ringers who are not members of groups.

 

Across the county particular focus is paid to species of conservation concern such as Barn Owl, Willow Tit, Tree Sparrow, Reed Bunting and Corn Bunting.

 

If you are interested in becoming a bird ringer please contact the British Trust for Ornithology for further details but please note that to succeed requires much dedication involving early mornings, late nights and many long hours in between. The rewards however are tremendous and one can learn far more about the intimate lives of birds than before.

 

 

 

Colour Ringing Projects

 

Colour ringing means that we can identify individuals or birds from a site or particular year simply by reading the colour ring combination in the field, eliminating the need to catch the bird again. Colour ringing increases the chances of recoveries for those studying these species and can enable us to compile life histories of individuals.

 

Please report any sightings of colour-ringed birds to the people named under each project. All reports will be acknowledged and we will provide more information wherever possible.

 

 

 

Tree Sparrows

 

All Tree Sparrows ringed in the county are fitted with colour rings. They are ringed with a combination of two colour rings on either leg. It is crucial to note which ring is above the other and whether it is on the right or left leg.

 

We are trying to learn of their survival rate and how they are moving around the countryside. If you see a flock of Tree Sparrows please try to note the where the flock was, flock size, how many are ringed and also what combinations you can read. We can then advise you of the age structure of the flock and if any of the birds have moved very far. We are currently ringing over 1000 Tree Sparrows per year so there is a great chance of finding colour-ringed birds.

 

 

 This bird is pale blue over white on the left. metal on the right.

 Please report all sightings to info@wiltshirebirds.co.uk

 

 

  

Corn Buntings

 

In the winter of 2004/5 we ringed over 80 Corn Buntings working in partnership with the RSPB. Over a quarter of these were re-sighted on summer territories by the RSPB. Over 50 Corn Buntings have subsequently been ringed on the Marlborough Downs each year since, these form the majority of the number ringed in the whole country each year. This project is yielding some fascinating facts about Corn Buntings so if you are out birding and see any Corn Buntings please spare a minute and try to see if you can see any colour rings.

 

These birds are ringed with a colour ring over the metal on the right leg with two colour rings on the left leg.

 

 

 This bird is light green over orange on the left, red over metal on the right.

 Please report any sightings to info@wiltshirebirds.co.uk detailing the ring positions and where the bird was seen.

 

 

 

 

Chiffchaffs

 

As part of a national project we are individually marking wintering Chiffchaffs in the Cotswold Water Park, Swindon and Marlborough. These birds are fitted with three colour rings and a metal ring.

 

If you see wintering Chiffchaffs please have a look to see if they are ringed or not.

 

 

This bird of the race Abietinus is green over metal on the left, red over blue on the right.

 

 This bird of the race Colybita is green over metal on the right, blue over black on the right.

 

 Please report any sightings to info@wiltshirebirds.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Reed Buntings

 

Reed Buntings along the River Ray in Swindon are being fitted with colour rings to identify individuals. On the right leg they will have a single or two colour rings over a metal ring and on the left leg they will have two colour rings.

 

 

 

 

This bird is green over orange on the left, white over blue over metal on the right

Please report all sightings to matt.prior@tiscali.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grey Herons

 

Grey Herons ringed as nestlings around The Cotswold Water Park have been fitted with wing tags for a number of years. Please forward any sightings of these birds noting when and where you saw it and the colour of the tag and the writing on it to rich_hearn@yahoo.co.uk