Today has been an interesting one for me as far as my garden birds are concerned. I am undergoing pre-training prior to commencing my formal training to become a licensed ringer under the auspices of the British Trust for Ornithology. This will enable me to capture and ring the bird visitors to my garden. I may be able to study the movements of the birds that enter my garden by recapture in subsequent years by myself or other ringers in other parts of Europe and the UK. Their movements can then be recorded and measured.
This morning’s weather was unfortunately bad for capture with strong winds in the garden. Strong wind makes the net more noticeable to the birds when it flutters and blows around. Having said that, a net was placed in position and there appeared to be a good chance of some birds being caught. At one time a dozen or so Goldfinch were in the garden, a few Greenfinch and Siskins. Disappointingly they all avoided capture! Success came in the form of an adult Robin which I ringed under the watchful eye of Dr Ian, my mentor and trainer. Then after a couple of hours with the net blowing around even more noticeably a Blue Tit was fooled and became my second ringed bird. Blue Tits are such a feisty and belligerent little bird and throughout the process pecked incessantly at my fingers…….. that’s fair enough if you ask me! The Blue Tit turned out to be a male and was a 2008 year bird. Ian is a very knowledgeable ornithologist who can tell the age and sex of most species by subtle variations of plumage and feather shape. This knowledge is being passed on to me and I am therefore increasing my own knowledge of birds immensely.
The photo above shows another Blue Tit taken during the week. I have posted it because people have commented on the use of Apple in my garden and I thought it might be interesting to see this Tit enjoying the Apple so much.