Copyright © 2021 Joshua Burch | All rights reserved.

RINGING THE CHANGES
David Campbell sets out long, fine mist nets to catch passing birds.Behind is the Beddington Incinerator, collecting vital data from bird ringing allows the land owners to visually see the large biodiversity in the surrounding reedbeds.
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The mist nets are made of a soft fine material enabling the humane and safe capture of live birds.
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A fellow volunteer carefully untangles one bird from the nets.
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Birders take extreme care when taking birds out of the net and their welfare is paramount.
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Wing measurements are taken using a steel ruler.
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Carefully blowing on the underside of the bird enables volunteers to see whether the bird has a brood patch. A brood patch is a sure way to know whether the bird is currently sitting on eggs and considered a breeding species of the area.
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A small ring is then placed around the birds legs. The ring is free enough to move loosely around and does not cause any harm. Each ring has a unique series of numbers to identify the bird if it is caught at a different location.
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Lastly the bird is weighed in an old film canister. This is the safest and easiest way to weigh the birds. Once weighed the birds are then released.
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Each biometric measurement is written down in the field and then the added to online databases.
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Copyright © 2021 Joshua Burch | All rights reserved.