Ringers Wear Shitty Hats .....

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

It's sadly true! See; If you're releasing birds from a mist net? You pop them into individual little cloth bags with draw strings. They sit quietly in those till you get round to processing them

 

You'd be amazed the number of bags a mist netter needs to have with them too. Because each bag is only to be used once. One birds in it. Then it's put aside to be laundered. We wouldn't risk passing anything from bird to bird.

 

However, when it comes to ringing an odd, individual nest box or open nest? We'll often just pop the chicks out of the nest and into our hat. They tend to treat it like a nest and just hunker down in it.

 

I've just been out to the horse pen, to ring a swallows nest which has, so far, escaped the attention of any pine martens. I took my hat.

 

 

Cute little buggers. But, one of them left a comment So, that hat's now for the wash. But, truth to tell? Ye soon get used to it and, out in the field, a sharp flick sends most stuff flying. Then, it's nothing to see a ringer jam the hat back on his head and carry on

 

Now, as I'm here and talking about swallows, I thought I'd show ye something. See, I'm constantly banging on about these " Endorsements ", aren't I?

 

Endorsements are levels of grade on our licenses. Bit like Boy Scouts badges. We get awarded them as our proficiency in various ringers skills grows.

 

Easiest endorsement to get would be ringing out of tit boxes in your own back garden. No field craft required. Precious more to it than putting a ring on a chick. And that's about as easy as it gets. Just wear a hat!

 

And, I was just thinking, probably the next 'easy' endorsement would be for ringing the swallows in ye outbuildings. How hard can that be?

 

You'd be surprised! See; Open a nest box. Reach in. Pop the chicks in ye hat ..... Then pop them back into the box. Job done.

 

You ever tried getting plump and well grown little birds out of what amounts to a scrap of dried mud. Set hard against the roof? It focuses the mind, I can tell you! One false move and ye've broken that nest!

 

And that's not all. Tits and stuff have long, skinny, stiff little legs quite early on. There's plenty of leg to work with.

 

Swallows? There's basically, room for that bloody ring! Any higher and you'll clip the thigh. Lower and you'll squeeze the foot.

 

Oh, and that foot will be constantly grasping. Concentrate, ffs! Or you'll squeeze a moving toe in the pliers!

 

So, yes, if you want to get an endorsement for your tits? Fine. But, when it comes to your swallows? Wakey, wakey!

 

 

 

Job Done

[Mr Wilkes 3,163]

Well done pete, ringing swallows seems a bit of a challenge but I must admit the real challenge would be (for me) to get the buggers out of the nest , I only have small thick "sausage" fingers good for grabbing hold of someone but not much else .I guess it would all come down to practice. the only time ive handle swallows/house martins is when they've hit a window ect..beautiful little birds, still amazes me how they make that epic journey . keep posting I find this fascinating .

[fireman 11,450]

Another grand post OP well done on some more chicks rung and funny how some birds are different to ring than others,although there smaller toed i find redpolls easier to ring than goldfinches due to goldfinches having a longer middle toe so we have to pull on one toe or nail to ease the ring down so we can grab hold off all 3 toes where as redpoll's toes are more equaly lenghted and it's easier to grip on all 3 to start with,but they all do the gripping bit and that don't help any of us eh? .

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

I find redpolls easier to ring than goldfinches due to goldfinches having a longer middle toe ..... but they all do the gripping bit and that don't help any of us eh? .

 

 

Exactly my point, see? It's the ridiculously tiny little details which we can only, really, pick up through the horror or real life experiences!

[Hot Meat 3,109]

what a pleasure it must be to ring them on your own yard, have you had any returns from previous broods? im takin my lad to watch local ringers use a net on a local reserve, just waiting for phone to ring lol he realy excited. we got a budgie that needs a nappy, fooker always uses my shoulder as a toilet lol small sacrafice for a happy chirpy wee bird thinkng im his buddy lol

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

Well done pete, ringing swallows seems a bit of a challenge but I must admit the real challenge would be (for me) to get the buggers out of the nest , I only have small thick "sausage" fingers

 

 

Mr Wilkes; If Anyone told me they found getting plump swallows out of a tight up nest 'Easy'? I'd be questioning what ever else they told me!

 

Perhaps there's some Swallow Specialist out there who's invented a 'soft, rubber swallow scoop' or something? I wouldn't know.

 

Bottom line though, I feel, is that we don't so much rely on having pianists fingers. It's more about temperament.

 

Treat them all like the tiny, delicate and worshipped little things that they are and it won't matter if ye have big, hooked claws for fingers. Soft and gentle. Calm and aware.

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

what a pleasure it must be to ring them on your own yard, have you had any returns from previous broods? im takin my lad to watch local ringers use a net on a local reserve, just waiting for phone to ring lol he realy excited.

 

 

Meat; Just being allowed to ring birds, full stop, is Such a f**king privilege! I'll Never get past that frame of mind, mate. To be handed a wild bird, by a Trainer (Jedi Knight, I s'pose might be the youngsters term of reference? I've never seen Star Wars) .....

 

To be allowed to hold a wild bird. Manipulate its little limbs, gently. Examine its most subtle feather shades. Listen and feel its little reactions. (I like to reassure them, softly, all the way. This is important to me. I explain and apologise for the inconvenience) It's the stuff of life, mate!

 

You simply don't (Can't) get any closer to nature than capturing a wild bird. Having it in your hands. Not harming a feather on it. Garnering scientific data in a minute or two. Then letting it go free again.

 

May that phone ring soon. Your lad ~ and You, I'm sure! ~ will be absolutely spell bound!

 

Please do let us all know how it goes

[Hot Meat 3,109]

yeah ill deffo let you know how it goes, i cant wait, im like a kid here lol

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

Have you had any returns from previous broods?

 

 

I'm sorry! I missed this point completely

 

" Returns from previous broods " ? Common sense says you mean 'Birds, ringed as chicks, coming back to my ground and being caught again.'

 

Okay. If I ring a bird on 'My Land'. Be it in a nest, or a full grown bird ....? That's a Ring. (For lack of a better term, known to me!)

 

If I then catch that same bird again, on my land? Then it's recorded as a " Retrap ". Basically, it's one of 'My' birds. I've re trapped it. I'll record its weight (How it's doing) and let it go.

 

To me though, the Holy Grail would be a " Control "! This is where I'd need to pee, as I did a frantic little dance, having realised that this bird was wearing someone else's ring!

 

Okay. It's 'getting late', as I type here. I'm enthusing again. I need to preserve energy for other tasks I need to do tonight. I'll duck out of here for now then.

 

I guess the better place to actually Ask any direct questions, about ringing, would be the *Sticky* thread at the top of this board. Keep it more together and save some repetition?

 

Just be sure to stand well back after hitting Send. My handling of birds is cherished. The water wall of my enthusiasm for it can be a bit daunting though!