Background
Colour-ringing of chough has been undertaken by Tony Cross and Adrienne Stratford in
mid and north Wales for over 25 years. Recently this effort has been extended to
Gower and to Ramsey Island, Pembrokeshire by Mike Shewring (Cardiff RG) and Chris Jones (Teifi RG) respectively. Prior to 2006 chough in both Pembrokeshire and Gower were
colour-ringed by Bob Haycock.
mid and north Wales for over 25 years. Recently this effort has been extended to
Gower and to Ramsey Island, Pembrokeshire by Mike Shewring (Cardiff RG) and Chris Jones (Teifi RG) respectively. Prior to 2006 chough in both Pembrokeshire and Gower were
colour-ringed by Bob Haycock.
As
a result of the project over 5,000 choughs have been colour-ringed, and
approximately 30,000 individual re-sightings reported. This re-sighting data
has shed light on the movements, social and nesting behaviour of chough, and has
also given insight into life expectancy / survival rates. The results of
the study have been used to inform the selection of sites for designation and agri-environment
agreements aimed at protecting and conserving chough in Wales.
a result of the project over 5,000 choughs have been colour-ringed, and
approximately 30,000 individual re-sightings reported. This re-sighting data
has shed light on the movements, social and nesting behaviour of chough, and has
also given insight into life expectancy / survival rates. The results of
the study have been used to inform the selection of sites for designation and agri-environment
agreements aimed at protecting and conserving chough in Wales.
Notable Recent Sightings
This
article was prompted by a notable recent sighting. A chough seen by Mike Cram
on Lock’s Common, an area of coastal grassland on the west side of Porthcawl on
10 November, and subsequently photographed by Andy Burns and Mike Pugh (c/o Steve
Rosser) was found to be a young female, ringed as chick earlier in 2016, by
Tony Cross on the north coast of Anglesey.
article was prompted by a notable recent sighting. A chough seen by Mike Cram
on Lock’s Common, an area of coastal grassland on the west side of Porthcawl on
10 November, and subsequently photographed by Andy Burns and Mike Pugh (c/o Steve
Rosser) was found to be a young female, ringed as chick earlier in 2016, by
Tony Cross on the north coast of Anglesey.
 |
| The Anglesey chough (Andy Burns) |
This
distance between the ringing site and the re-sighting location, 219 km, is
almost double the previous maximum dispersal distance recorded by ringed Welsh
birds. Other notable movements have been from Anglesey to the Isle of Man
(c. 100 km), a trip that has been made by a number of individuals, while
Gower-ringed birds have been recorded in Weston Supermare. To illustrate the
longevity of some choughs, a pair of siblings ringed in Gower in 2004 is now
resident in the Ogmore / Southerndown area. Although some of their original
colour rings have now fallen off, Adrienne can recognise them from their
retained rings.
Evidence
that there is still much to learn includes a few reports of birds with
colour-rings in North Devon in the late 2000s, but these were not seen well
enough / photographed, and their origin was not determined. The occurrence of
a proven Brittany-ringed bird, photographed at Baggy Point in North Devon in
2014, shows the extent to which these birds can move.
that there is still much to learn includes a few reports of birds with
colour-rings in North Devon in the late 2000s, but these were not seen well
enough / photographed, and their origin was not determined. The occurrence of
a proven Brittany-ringed bird, photographed at Baggy Point in North Devon in
2014, shows the extent to which these birds can move.
It
follows that to maximise the potential of the project, the submission of further
photographs and notes on colour-ringed birds would be very useful.
follows that to maximise the potential of the project, the submission of further
photographs and notes on colour-ringed birds would be very useful.
Reporting
a Colour-ringed Chough
a Colour-ringed Chough
If you find a
colour-ringed chough, the following information is most critical:
·
the
observer’s name
the
observer’s name
·
the
date
the
date
·
the
location (preferably with a six figure Ordnance Survey Grid Reference)
the
location (preferably with a six figure Ordnance Survey Grid Reference)
·
flock
size
flock
size
·
Colour-ring
details. Photos are ideal, but otherwise
provision of whatever detail can be seen of the upper and lower rings on each
leg (each bird is ringed with 3 colour rings and one metal BTO ring).
Occasionally, particularly on older birds, rings have been lost, but Adrienne can often interpret part-seen
combinations. The use of “?” for uncertain colours etc. is very useful.
Colour-ring
details. Photos are ideal, but otherwise
provision of whatever detail can be seen of the upper and lower rings on each
leg (each bird is ringed with 3 colour rings and one metal BTO ring).
Occasionally, particularly on older birds, rings have been lost, but Adrienne can often interpret part-seen
combinations. The use of “?” for uncertain colours etc. is very useful.
Optional but useful
additional details include information such as:
·
Associations
between birds; whether the colour-ringed bird appears paired / “friends” with another colour-ringed / un-ringed bird, or whether accompanied by juveniles
etc.
Associations
between birds; whether the colour-ringed bird appears paired / “friends” with another colour-ringed / un-ringed bird, or whether accompanied by juveniles
etc.
·
Habitats
used for foraging (e.g. feeding on short-grazed sheep pasture, or digging in seaweed on strand-line etc.).
Habitats
used for foraging (e.g. feeding on short-grazed sheep pasture, or digging in seaweed on strand-line etc.).
 |
| Colour rings used in the study (Adrienne Stratford). |
Submitting your Sighting
Please send your
sightings to Adrienne Stratford (adriennestratford@btinternet.com)
. Adrienne will ensure the relevant details are sent to the BTO.
sightings to Adrienne Stratford (adriennestratford@btinternet.com)
. Adrienne will ensure the relevant details are sent to the BTO.
For more images of birds in South Wales and beyond, see: http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/
Article written based on information supplied by Adrienne Stratford.
For further information about the Teifi and Cardiff Ringing Groups see: http://teifimarshbirds.blogspot.co.uk/ and
http://cardiffringers.blogspot.co.uk/
Owain Gabb
27/11/2016
Chris Jones = Teifi Ringing Group
http://teifimarshbirds.blogspot.co.uk/