Bird ringing
Bird ringing (also known as bird banding) is the practice of identifying wild birds, by attaching a small metal or plastic ring to their legs.
Birds are either ringed at the nest, or after being trapped in fine mist nests, duck decoys or similar.
A ring of suitable size is attached, and has on it a unique number, plus a contact address. The bird is often weighed and measured, and examined for parasites (which may then be removed) before release. The rings are very light-weight, and have no adverse affect on the birds.
Birds are then identified when they are re-trapped, or found dead.
The finder can contact the address on the ring, give the unique number, and be told the known history of the birds movements.
The organising body, by collating many such reports, can then determine patterns of bird movements for large populations.
Ses also
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