The value of ringing for bird conservation
Ringing has been an important research tool for the conservation biologist over the last 100 years. Effective
conservation of wild bird populations requires understanding of bird ecology and of the factors driving
population change, and evidence that proposed conservation measures can be effective. Bird-ringing studies
can provide a wide range of data types to aid and inform this process, and in many cases these data are
not available without the capture and marking of individual birds (Anderson & Green, 2009).
conservation of wild bird populations requires understanding of bird ecology and of the factors driving
population change, and evidence that proposed conservation measures can be effective. Bird-ringing studies
can provide a wide range of data types to aid and inform this process, and in many cases these data are
not available without the capture and marking of individual birds (Anderson & Green, 2009).
The UK Ringing Scheme is run and monitored by The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Most ringers are volunteers and all must hold a licence that allows the catching and handling of wild birds (giving provisions in Part I, 16(5) of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981), "to take wild birds for the purpose of ringing or marking or examining any ring or mark". It is otherwise illegal.
As well as providing information on movements of birds that is essential for conservation, ringing allows us to investigate the causes of changes in bird populations. For effective conservation, it is necessary not only to know whether bird populations are changing, but also why they are changing so that action might be taken to reverse unwelcome trends.
"Marking birds as individuals is the only way that survival rates can be estimated, and therefore is an essential part of bird conservation" (BTO, 2001).
The BTO has developed a programme of Integrated Population Monitoring to bring together information from counts, nest recording and ringing. Between them, these data allow for the identification of changes in populations, establish the part of the life-cycle affected and therefore investigate the cause.
The bulk of data accumulated of bird migration is done by large teams of professional and volunteer ringers at a number of Bird Observatories around the shores of Great Britain. Although Squire's Down is 30 miles inland and run entirely by volunteers, resulting data compare favourably with those of the observatories.
The conservation work carried out during the year would not be possible without the financial support of our sponsors and donors, helping to cover some of the costs of rings and equipment. If you would like to help support our research work financially, all contributions are gratefully received. Please see our Donate page.
As well as providing information on movements of birds that is essential for conservation, ringing allows us to investigate the causes of changes in bird populations. For effective conservation, it is necessary not only to know whether bird populations are changing, but also why they are changing so that action might be taken to reverse unwelcome trends.
"Marking birds as individuals is the only way that survival rates can be estimated, and therefore is an essential part of bird conservation" (BTO, 2001).
The BTO has developed a programme of Integrated Population Monitoring to bring together information from counts, nest recording and ringing. Between them, these data allow for the identification of changes in populations, establish the part of the life-cycle affected and therefore investigate the cause.
The bulk of data accumulated of bird migration is done by large teams of professional and volunteer ringers at a number of Bird Observatories around the shores of Great Britain. Although Squire's Down is 30 miles inland and run entirely by volunteers, resulting data compare favourably with those of the observatories.
The conservation work carried out during the year would not be possible without the financial support of our sponsors and donors, helping to cover some of the costs of rings and equipment. If you would like to help support our research work financially, all contributions are gratefully received. Please see our Donate page.
See our FAQ page for more information on ringing.
References
Anderson, G. & Green, R. (2009) The Value of Ringing for Bird Conservation. Ringing & Migration. 24(3)205-212 [Available at:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228501270_The_value_of_ringing_for_bird_conservation]
BTO: Redfern, C. & Clark, J. (2001) Ringer's Manual. BTO 1,2.
Anderson, G. & Green, R. (2009) The Value of Ringing for Bird Conservation. Ringing & Migration. 24(3)205-212 [Available at:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228501270_The_value_of_ringing_for_bird_conservation]
BTO: Redfern, C. & Clark, J. (2001) Ringer's Manual. BTO 1,2.