Nature Features

Mist net to catch fully-grown birds

There is a long history of bird ringing on the site at Abberton Reservoir.  Hidden away in a corner is a stone to commemorate Major General CB Wainwright who ringed over 95,000 birds Abberton birds.

"There have been various different studies done over the years," says BTO ringer Peter Dwyer.  "There has been a long running study on the tree nesting cormorants, and also the ducks have been studied."

Uniquely numbered metal rings are used

In 1962 a wigeon was ringed at Abberton, it came to the BTO's attention on the 15, September, 1996 after it was shot.  At 34-years and seven months it was the oldest wigeon in Europe.

It's usually only when a ringed bird dies that the BTO find out what has happened to them.

The bird had been caught, and was released by ringers in South Africa.

Before ringing started 100-years-ago, it was thought swallows disappeared and went down to the bottom of ponds!

The first swallow to be found abroad, that had been ringed, was in 1912.

Over 800,000 birds are ringed every year

"Since ringing began 100-years ago this month, over 36 million birds have been ringed.  With more than 250 different species of bird being ringed in the UK," adds Peter.

If you would like to find out more, click the link below to hear how BBC Essex's Renee Hockley-Byam got one when she met ringer, Peter Dwyer at Abberton.

There will be a demonstration of bird ringing at the Wildlife Fair at Essex Wildlife Trust's Abberton Reserve on Saturday, 30, and Sunday, 31, May.  For more information call 01621 862960