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18 June 2009
Bird ringing centenary celebration
Local people attended a successful bird ringing demonstration, held at Storton’s Pit Nature Reserve on Sunday 14 June, to celebrate the centenary of the British Trust for Ornithology’s bird ringing scheme.
The event provided a brilliant chance to see birds close up, and talk to wardens about conservation, migration and the work The Trust does to help.
The aim of bird ringing is to monitor populations of bird species over long periods of time in order to spot any changes in their breeding numbers or their travels - around Britain, Europe and to the rest of the world.
Tall, fine, ‘mist’ nets were put up around the nature reserve to catch the birds, take measurements of their weight, wings and note their age and condition. A small metal ring was then put on the leg of each bird, which helps with population studies in Great Britain as a whole, and with management of nature reserves.
Storton’s Pits is rich in wildlife, with many breeding species, including reed buntings, reed and sedge warblers. Despite being close to Northampton, it contains several valuable habitat types, including the largest reedbed in the county and some wonderful fen-type ditches and swamp areas. It’s a must see not only for it’s bird life, but for butterflies and beetles as well.
For more information about the event, and to find out about the next one, please contact Lucy Ryan on 01604 405285 or email Lucy.Ryan[at]wildlifebcnp.org