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Whats This Ring (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter norman
- Start date
tomjenner
Well-known member
Its not a normal BTO ring. I know that there are many people that breed and release Barn owls into the wild, as I have heard discussions of how few of them probably survive. This may be a ring that someone has put on a bird that they released. The fact that its flying around your village during the day, might suggest that this is the case.
Tom
Tom
Katy Penland
Well-known member
Is it just the angle of the photo, or is the left foot, with the ring, more swollen than the right?
birdpotter
Well-known member
Yeah, it does look more swollen, doesn't it?
Andrew Rowlands
Well-known member
Norman,
This was once someones 'pet'.
The ring is not BTO.
Yes Katy, the left leg/foot does look significantly larger (more swollen) than the other.
Andy.
This was once someones 'pet'.
The ring is not BTO.
Yes Katy, the left leg/foot does look significantly larger (more swollen) than the other.
Andy.
Katy Penland
Well-known member
Awwwww, the poor thing. Could someone report this bird so that it could be trapped and that ring removed before it loses its foot/leg or it dies? What a shame. |=(|
David Pedder
Well-known member
Hi Norman,
I agree with Tom and Andrew, this poor bird has been in captivity and is obviously at great risk. Are you in Cleveland England or Cleveland Ohio? If in the UK I know a man who may be able to help. It would also be well worth sending your photographs and details of this bird to The Barn Owl Trust. http://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/
I agree with Tom and Andrew, this poor bird has been in captivity and is obviously at great risk. Are you in Cleveland England or Cleveland Ohio? If in the UK I know a man who may be able to help. It would also be well worth sending your photographs and details of this bird to The Barn Owl Trust. http://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/
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alcedo.atthis
Well-known member
"It has what looks like a thick anodised metal ring on the left leg.Has anyone seen aring like this before."
That actually looks like the remnants of a leather jess.
Regards
Malky
That actually looks like the remnants of a leather jess.
Regards
Malky
David Pedder
Well-known member
Yes. I think you are right Malky.
alcedo.atthis
Well-known member
"the ring is too thick for leather jesses"
Don't think so!
"also it has a dull shine like anodised metal."
So does polished leather, as in new jesses, and the photo's show only a part of, and it would be in the correct position for said.
There are new style jesses on the market, which are a lot narrower than the wide plain leather with the eyelets.
Regards
Malky
Don't think so!
"also it has a dull shine like anodised metal."
So does polished leather, as in new jesses, and the photo's show only a part of, and it would be in the correct position for said.
There are new style jesses on the market, which are a lot narrower than the wide plain leather with the eyelets.
Regards
Malky
David Pedder
Well-known member
Whereas the population of wild Barn Owls in Britain has decreased by an estimated 70% since 1932, the captive population has increased dramatically and has been estimated at a staggering 24,000 - three times the size of the wild population. The sale of rings for captive Barn Owls showed a 600% increase between 1983 and 1990 and in addition large numbers of captive birds are not fitted with closed rings. It is therefore not uncommon, as you know, for birds to get in to the wrong hands and for irresponsible owners to release Barn Owls in to the wild (even though this illegal act can result in a £5000 fine).
The more I think about Norman’s owl the more puzzled I become. If it is a captive bird, and everything points to that, I would not have expected it to survive in the wild for much more than a week and yet Norman has seen it around his village for the past three months. One would therefore assume that it is hunting and fending pretty well for itself. The foot is a worry however and, if swelling due to the tightness of the ring, action needs to be taken. Might the RSPCA help? I know they catch swans but I guess a Barn Owl may be a touch more challenging!
The more I think about Norman’s owl the more puzzled I become. If it is a captive bird, and everything points to that, I would not have expected it to survive in the wild for much more than a week and yet Norman has seen it around his village for the past three months. One would therefore assume that it is hunting and fending pretty well for itself. The foot is a worry however and, if swelling due to the tightness of the ring, action needs to be taken. Might the RSPCA help? I know they catch swans but I guess a Barn Owl may be a touch more challenging!
David Pedder
Well-known member
Absolutely. Norman, can you call in some help for this beautiful bird?
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timmyjones
Well-known member
Well if its a captive bird then why not go along to your local falconer and explain the situation i'm sure he/she would understand and lend you a glove and a few mice if this happens try to find the owl at dusk before it goes hunting as this is when it will be most Hungry
David Pedder
Well-known member
Hopefully some good news. The Barn Owl Trust have provided me with the contact details of a man in Yorkshire who works in the field of Barn Owl conservation and may be able to take appropriate action. I shall pass on these details to Norman.
David Pedder
Well-known member
norman said:
Not good news! As you are obviously on the case I'll leave it with you Norman. Good luck mate!
KnockerNorton
Well-known member
It's perfectly possible that it's a wild bird that an amateur has rung in the nest with whatever rings they had to hand. They may have even been a barn owl breeder and had the right sized rings. The foot seems to be ok, as it isn't being held differently.
As for flying in the day, most barn owls are at this time of year, as they're feeding young.
Captive-bred barn owls need to be close-rung with an identifiable alloy ring (bearing a code) if the are to be sold etc (and it's in the breeder's interest to do this as it proves to a certain extent that they're caprive bred), but it is also legal to hold birds that aren't close-ringed. This isn't a standard closed-ring though. It does look like an anodised metal ring to me. The bird looks in decent nick though, so I'm not convinced it's a recent release/escape.
As for flying in the day, most barn owls are at this time of year, as they're feeding young.
Captive-bred barn owls need to be close-rung with an identifiable alloy ring (bearing a code) if the are to be sold etc (and it's in the breeder's interest to do this as it proves to a certain extent that they're caprive bred), but it is also legal to hold birds that aren't close-ringed. This isn't a standard closed-ring though. It does look like an anodised metal ring to me. The bird looks in decent nick though, so I'm not convinced it's a recent release/escape.
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