ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ

What is bird ringing?Ìý

Bird ringing is a technique that involves catching birds and placing a metal ring with a unique code on their leg, so they can be identified in the future. Over the decades, bird ringing has been practiced, it has greatly increased what we know about a vast number of species by being able to identify individual birds, and track population dynamics and migration in ways which would not be doable by just observing birds.Ìý

Most birds ringed in the ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ have been caught in mist nets – long nets made of fine string which birds don’t see and fly into. Other methods of capture include using thermal imaging and dazzling with light to catch some species at night, as well as ringing chicks in the nest.Ìý

All bird ringing is completed by people who have been trained over many years to safely ring birds and are licenced by the British Trust for Ornithology, the principal research organisation in Britain focusing on birds.

Record numbers

2024 saw a record number of birds ringed and species caught due to a combination of more trainees joining the ringing group and continuation of ringing effort throughout the year - in total an amazing 849 volunteer hours. Ìý
Ìý
The ability to ring at night using a thermal imager has also boosted numbers, particularly throughout the winter months. Targeting woodcock has been particularly interesting and, as a result, we have discovered fieldfare, skylark and meadow pipit roosting on the ground in open fields. You can find out more about thermal imaging here: Behind the scenes: Thermal Imaging aiding conservation efforts | Heart of England ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅÌý

Ringed numbers of blue tit, dunnock, goldfinch, great-spotted woodpecker, great tit, greenfinch, meadow pipit, nuthatch, reed bunting, robin and wren have all increased. Ìý
Ìý
A total of 18 bird boxes were occupied at Coughton Park and Stapenhill Wood. With only 2 nest failures, the boxes produced a total of 76 blue tit and 33 great tit fledglings (total 109)! Ìý

Take a look at our spring spotters guides for the bird species you are likely to see in the ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ: Birds | Heart of England ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ

ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ firstsÌý

Species first ringed in 2024 include green sandpiper ringed at an evening mist netting session, and stock dove, which was found at night, with the use of a thermal imager.

How you can help birds in the ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅÌý

Monitoring, maintaining, managing, and enhancing habits for birds to nest, feed, and thrive in is part of our ongoing work at the charity.  Ìý
  Ìý
The Redditch Ringing Group has recorded 54 species of birds in the ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ over six years, and 12 of those have been red list species; these are birds which have declined significantly in range and/or abundance. The marsh tit, lesser redpoll and greenfinch are a few to name, but are recorded in healthy numbers in the ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ. Ìý
Ìý
We’d like to see them continue to thrive with your help.