Does ringing affect birds?
Ringing has little effect on birds because relative to the bird’s weight, wearing a ring is similar to a person wearing a watch. It is essential that birds are not affected unduly by the fitting and wearing of a ring; if they were, ringing would not tell us how normal birds behave. Many studies have shown that birds ringed during the breeding season quickly return to incubating eggs, or feeding chicks, once they are released, and long distance migrants continue to travel thousands of miles between breeding and wintering grounds.
How are birds caught for ringing?
The method most frequently used to catch fully-grown birds is the mist net, erected between poles, and is designed to catch birds in flight. Birds can only be removed safely from mist nets by experienced ringers who have received special training. About twenty percent are ringed as chicks in the nest; this is valuable because their precise age and origin are known.
Learning to ring
Ringing is carried out by skilled ringers with the utmost consideration for the birds’ welfare and can only be learnt by practice under the close supervision of experienced ringers. You learn as an 'apprentice' for at least one or two years, but usually rather longer depending on the person training and how much time they have to ring. Essential skills include the safe and efficient catching and handling of birds, identification, ageing, measuring and record keeping. Progress is assessed by an independent ringer so the BTO Ringing Scheme maintains very high standards of bird welfare and scientific data. A BTO ringing permit is also a legal requirement for anyone ringing birds. It must be renewed annually.
Ringing has little effect on birds because relative to the bird’s weight, wearing a ring is similar to a person wearing a watch. It is essential that birds are not affected unduly by the fitting and wearing of a ring; if they were, ringing would not tell us how normal birds behave. Many studies have shown that birds ringed during the breeding season quickly return to incubating eggs, or feeding chicks, once they are released, and long distance migrants continue to travel thousands of miles between breeding and wintering grounds.
How are birds caught for ringing?
The method most frequently used to catch fully-grown birds is the mist net, erected between poles, and is designed to catch birds in flight. Birds can only be removed safely from mist nets by experienced ringers who have received special training. About twenty percent are ringed as chicks in the nest; this is valuable because their precise age and origin are known.
Learning to ring
Ringing is carried out by skilled ringers with the utmost consideration for the birds’ welfare and can only be learnt by practice under the close supervision of experienced ringers. You learn as an 'apprentice' for at least one or two years, but usually rather longer depending on the person training and how much time they have to ring. Essential skills include the safe and efficient catching and handling of birds, identification, ageing, measuring and record keeping. Progress is assessed by an independent ringer so the BTO Ringing Scheme maintains very high standards of bird welfare and scientific data. A BTO ringing permit is also a legal requirement for anyone ringing birds. It must be renewed annually.