23 Sep Sharing Learning and Good Practice: The Welsh (Bird) Ringing Course 2022
The long weekend of 9-12 September 2022 saw the return of the Welsh Ringing Course, the field elements of which were co-ordinated by BSG Ecology Director and Gower Ringing Group member Owain Gabb.
The course focusses on independent assessment to inform ringing permit upgrades, and of 12 participants five were to be assessed for A permits (allowing them to ring completely independently), one for an additional Training (S) Permit (allowing them to train other ringers), and two for adding mist net endorsements to their restricted C Permits (which allow them to work under remote supervision). The remainder of attendees came to gain further experience ringing with different trainers and using different techniques, and were a mix of Trainees and recent C Permit holders. In the absence of courses, of which there are very few across the UK, it can be challenging to achieve permit upgrades.
The itinerary took in various sites on the Gower Peninsula, and included daytime mist netting at Oxwich Marsh and High Pennard and dazzling waders at Whiteford Burrows. The weather was relatively kind, and a total of 843 birds of 44 species were processed. Mist netting highlights for participants included a late tree pipit caught at the same time as a meadow pipit (allowing a comparison of features in the hand, two garden warblers (mainly an August bird locally), marsh tits, several stonechats, well over 100 goldfinches and good numbers of siskin and greenfinch. Waders captured included 76 dunlin, 3 curlew sandpiper, and singles of turnstone, ringed plover, sanderling, grey plover and bar-tailed godwit.
As a result of the course a number of upgrades were recommended, and all participants were provided with feedback on areas to work on in order to continue their advancement. This outcome will almost certainly result in new projects commencing that will provide further important population data to the British Trust for Ornithology, as well as strengthening existing long-running studies.
Owain was given time off work to run the course by BSG Ecology, reflecting the company’s understanding of the importance of the ringing weekend.
A detailed account of the course is here: Welsh Ringing Course 2022