I was sat eating my lunch during a birding trip to a local park (SW London, UK) on Saturday afternoon when I got surrounded by a bunch of birds all used to being thrown a few crumbs. A pair of Mallards climbed out of the pond to investigate, several Coots wandered along the bank for a better look and one or two Carrion Crows swooped in and looked menacing. There were also half a dozen or more Jackdaws - one of whom had a small silver ring on his right leg. This got me thinking - why ring a Jackdaw?
I don't know much about ringing but I know that ringed birds can tell us a lot about migration and so on. I normally associate ringing with less common (and captive) birds so I was a bit surprised to see a ringed Jackdaw. I guess we have to learn more about the common species too. I think of Jackdaws as resident but might some be ringed as part of a migratory Scandinavian population for example?
I don't know much about ringing but I know that ringed birds can tell us a lot about migration and so on. I normally associate ringing with less common (and captive) birds so I was a bit surprised to see a ringed Jackdaw. I guess we have to learn more about the common species too. I think of Jackdaws as resident but might some be ringed as part of a migratory Scandinavian population for example?