I've had several discussions with fellow birders recently on this subject, so thought I'd get some general opinions.
Just wondered what are your views on birds trapped and ringed? Would you actually count them on your own personal BOU list?
Personally, I see no problem doing so and have had lots of conversations arguing the case for counting any trapped and ringed birds on a Life List.
A prime example of this was the Western Orphean Warbler at Hartlepool which I was lucky enough to catch up with and where hundreds of twitchers made the trip. I've since had some people say "it's not natural" or it's a "given bird" but the bird was only trapped and ringed in the area it was found and then released back into the same area again.
A lot of ringers around the country, especially with a rare or scarce bird give a time for release to enable birders to tick a new species. This indeed happened at Spurn once with a Wryneck for me which I dashed over from the seawatching hide to see.
Some countries I think, have a 24 hour rule where birds cannot be "ticked" if seen within this time if previously trapped and released although I can't remember off the top of my head, which country/countries this applies to.
Another area of debate is "possible ship assisted" birds like the White-tailed Plover at Seaforth or the Spanish Sparrow at Calshot, Hampshire?
Again, I don't see a problem, particually the Spanish Sparrow as it was resident in the area for over 2 years and even hooked up with the local female House Sparrows to produce hybrid offspring.
Anyway, I have counted all of the above species on my own BOU list and am happy with doing so, but would welcome any opinions to continue the debate that I have had many times.
Over to you!!!!
Just wondered what are your views on birds trapped and ringed? Would you actually count them on your own personal BOU list?
Personally, I see no problem doing so and have had lots of conversations arguing the case for counting any trapped and ringed birds on a Life List.
A prime example of this was the Western Orphean Warbler at Hartlepool which I was lucky enough to catch up with and where hundreds of twitchers made the trip. I've since had some people say "it's not natural" or it's a "given bird" but the bird was only trapped and ringed in the area it was found and then released back into the same area again.
A lot of ringers around the country, especially with a rare or scarce bird give a time for release to enable birders to tick a new species. This indeed happened at Spurn once with a Wryneck for me which I dashed over from the seawatching hide to see.
Some countries I think, have a 24 hour rule where birds cannot be "ticked" if seen within this time if previously trapped and released although I can't remember off the top of my head, which country/countries this applies to.
Another area of debate is "possible ship assisted" birds like the White-tailed Plover at Seaforth or the Spanish Sparrow at Calshot, Hampshire?
Again, I don't see a problem, particually the Spanish Sparrow as it was resident in the area for over 2 years and even hooked up with the local female House Sparrows to produce hybrid offspring.
Anyway, I have counted all of the above species on my own BOU list and am happy with doing so, but would welcome any opinions to continue the debate that I have had many times.
Over to you!!!!