Ringing Report 2010 Published

BTO Annual Ringing Report for 2010 has been published today. In Glamorgan, 6028 birds were ringed with 163 birds recovered*. In line, with the UK norm, Blue Tit is the species most ringed with 740. Recovery data always makes interesting reading, and here's a few select records: A Knot ringed at Rumney Great Wharf in...

Satellite Tracking for Welsh Ospreys

Each year, one or two Glamorgan birders are fortunate to see an Osprey flying overhead as it makes its way north or south on its annual migration. In recent years, birds have also spent a few days in late summer feeding up at estuaries in the west of the county. Feeding exclusively on fish, Ospreys...

Is Mist Netting Safe?

Mist nets are commonly used by researchers to capture birds in the study of their behaviour, movements and demographics.  A recently published study has, for the first time, evaluated the risks associated with mist netting. Mortality and injury rates were quantified from over 300,000 birds caught by 22 banding (ringing) organisations across the US and...

Recording Mute Swan Movements

Despite its regal appearance, the Mute Swan is a common sight on the various ponds, lakes and rivers in Glamorgan and the rest of the UK. A project run by BTO volunteers is trying to unravel the mystery of movements of this, our largest water bird, in South Wales. The vast majority of Swans ringed...

Ringing Recoveries: Nos Oiseaux en France

As so many Welsh men and women will be travelling to France for this weekend’s big rugby match, we thought it would be a good excuse to look at some recent ringing recoveries of birds who have made a similar journey from here in East Glamorgan: Herring Gull: A nestling ringed on July 3rd 2003...