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Uncoded Herring Gull ring (1 Viewer)

It's weird isn't it - I've seen two Canada Geese and a Mallard with a single blue ring on locally in Braunton - no-one has a clue who dunnit!!
 
I've seen similar rings on other species where it's used to monitor local populations of birds. The only species I can recall the specific details of is a local Little Tern colony where a blue ring is placed on the leg - every year it's the same colour which at least identifies it from distance as having come from that colony. They also though have a metal BTO ring.

I recall a similar scheme with small white rings was used on Herring Gulls from a landfill site around Scarborough which I think was just used to montior dispersal of gulls from the landfill site. I don't think they had metal rings either. This maybe a similar scheme to that.
 
Thanks for responses, all very interesting. I've tweeted the BTO (I know how arrogant that sounds hehehe) so hopefully they'll shed some more light on it...
 
I don't think the BTO will be able to shed any light on it. Very unlikely to be from any of their schemes. I've seen this in Weymouth and think its someone who's probably rehab'd the bird and let it go having put a little marker on it so they know which bird from the local park it was... obviously not having realised birds move around quite a bit! I very doubt you'll get any details of this bird, probably not worth your effort.
 
Mystery solved. It was the Seal and Bird Rescue Trust wot did it.

They said ".it came in 2/3 days old....31/5/2011 we do ring them and leave them to soft release from our hospital, they come and go as they please....so nice to know this one is still doing well, many thanks for contacting us. Bev Cosse and David Carr SBRT."
 
Thanks for the update!
Are they allowed to "ring" birds? I can´t believe it because people who are trained would not use a wrong band size. Ringers also would apply a metal ring from an ornithological station. If you´re still in contact with them tell them (recommend them) to use a proper ring size in future.
 
Archie Opteryx said:
Mystery solved. It was the Seal and Bird Rescue Trust wot did it.

They said ".it came in 2/3 days old....31/5/2011 we do ring them and leave them to soft release from our hospital, they come and go as they please....so nice to know this one is still doing well, many thanks for contacting us. Bev Cosse and David Carr SBRT."
Click to expand...

Surely that's illegal?! To ring a wild bird you need a permit, and the BTO are the only org that issues permits, and they require special permission to ring rehab birds, and it ALWAYS requires a BTO metal ring too. The colour-ring on that gull is also MUCH too small and tight, and totally the wrong size.

Rehabbers are completely unregulated, anybody can decide to call themselves a 'rehabber' and start rescuing birds. And this shows that they need some scrutiny, as you can't decide that you will start ringing birds. I'd report this to the BTO to follow up, as these rehab people are obviously way off message.
 
I'm half ready to email them myself. I want birds that are genuinely in trouble to be rehabilitated when possible, but ringing like this is pretty selfish, especially this one that looks VERY tight-fitting.

PS I'm a bto ringer so obviously not against legal ringing!
 
LowellMills said:
I'm half ready to email them myself. I want birds that are genuinely in trouble to be rehabilitated when possible, but ringing like this is pretty selfish, especially this one that looks VERY tight-fitting.

PS I'm a bto ringer so obviously not against legal ringing!
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You're right, Lowell. The purposed of the whole ringing system is to ensure that people who undertake ringing are suitably competent. I'm sure there would be a ringer nearby who could ring (or even colour-ring) "their" birds for them which would allow them to be monitored.
 
Noting that I have no axe to grind here, but here is what the guys say in response to the thread...

...yes the ring is close fitting but still moved freely on the leg so no problem can be caused , we take in something like 30 to 40 gull chicks per season, as rehabbers we take enormous care and time to make sure the birds survive are in good health and are free, we are one of the very few organisations taking in these chicks as most don’t wish to know them, the only reason we ring a few every now and then is to monitor whether or not the birds do survive after human intervention and no parent bird to guide them , without monitoring the birds post release we have no way of knowing if our methods are successful or need changing, we rest our case,......your picture taken 2 years after the bird was released confirms our efforts are worthwhile. For those who aim criticism at us please come to the centre and volunteer your services and expertise.



B P Cosse Trustee Chairman
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No one is doubting the good intention, however they just can't put a ring on a bird without a licence. If they want to do this in the future then they need to do it in conjunction with a local ringing group or have a licence of their own.
 
jacana said:
No one is doubting the good intention, however they just can't put a ring on a bird without a licence. If they want to do this in the future then they need to do it in conjunction with a local ringing group or have a licence of their own.
Click to expand...
I can only agree.
This behaviour reminds me on my time as a kid when boys catched illegaly House Sparrows in winter and put them bands on to monitor if they are visiting the local feeders again.
 
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