Re: Ringing birds

I don't like that ring either. It looks almost like it has some sort of thing for attaching a cord or similar, as though it has been captive and tethered. I hope I'm wrong.

i think the bit on the back is where the ring was crimped onto its leg.

i've also had a Starling with the silver BTO ring

LOL Doggie. Was it this one? I observed this ringing session earlier this year in my neighbour's garden

Buzzard's been in touch and he thinks like what has already been said that it probably looks like it's an escapee..possibly used for breeding or showing etc.

Thanks for the info Buzzard.

hey it looks just like that one..i'll send it back to you

Well he seems to be doing fine out in the wild. Thank goodness.

Posts crossed - no thanks, got enough of my own LOL

Just had this from the BTO. confirming what you all have been saying so thanks to everyone who offered info.

Dear Alan,

Thank you for your report about the ringed Goldfinch.

Colour marking is a useful research tool for biologists studying behaviour and local movements.  All colour marking projects are registered with the Trust and, on the whole, we are usually able to trace the majority of reports and inform finders about the history of the bird.

However, this is not one of our rings; all wild birds carry in addition to the colour ring a split metal ring (which looks greyish from a distance) with a postal address as well as a serial number.  I think this colour ring is from a captive-bred aviary bird.  Unfortunately, there is no central register of these rings, so this bird is probably untraceable, but you could try:

British Bird Council www.britishbirdcouncil.com

For more information on the Ringing Scheme, please visit our website: www.bto.org/.../ringing-scheme

Thanks again for reporting this bird.

Best wishes,

Sabine

Well that all settles it. An escapee. How lovely to see him flying free with his cousins and managing very well.

That's what i thought Sparrow can't understand why anyone would want a captive one when a bit of sunflower hearts gets you 30 or 40.

I've emailed a photo to the britishbirdcouncil to see what they say

To answer another part of Doggie's question, it's not necessarily the case that all the chicks in a brood would be ringed. You need to wait until the chicks' legs are big enough before ringing them. If some were too small when you visited the nest, you'd leave those.

You can find out more about ringing in the UK on the BTO website. And if you see or find a bird with a ring, please report it here.

Katie

One really lucky bird and nice to see it is manageing in the wild and doing well,lets hope that ring doesn't snag on anything like a piece of string etc.  

Thanks for the extra info Katie..

It's certainly thriving Sooty so fingers crossed.

Oh well that's good then! Glad that you managed to get an answer :) Also, regarding ringing the chicks in a brood, the ringers I know usually wait until the brood are all big enough to be ringed so that they can get them all at once, but not so big that they'll attempt to fly off before they're ready. The only chicks that I've done have been seabirds, so I don't know much about ringing passerine chicks, but surely that's the best way to do it?

Thank you all for your help and info

Glad you got your answer Alan

The ring does seem to have a number. When I get doves with rings I take lots of photos of the legs, trim the pictures and if lucky am a ble to work the number out.

Thats the only way to trace it.

 Ray