Passerine bird-ringing in a nutshell

Set up mist nets at strategic locations... for most of the ringing sessions at Buloh, they're at the R3 freshwater ponds, at the deepest parts of the Reserve where the public seldom ventures. Mist nets are special nets that trap the birds as they fly into them, invisible from a distance, but yet are gentle on a bird and will not injure the bird.


Birds are carefully removed from the nets and kept in breathable cloth bags while awaiting their turn to be ringed. A typical passerine bird-ringing day at Buloh lasts from 5am to 6pm, the conservation officers taking shifts. Wader ringing takes place at odd hours... often requiring overnight work.


This one's a juvenile Yellow-vented bulbul. Measurements of sorts are taken... the most important ones of which are tarsus diameter (to determine which size ring is to be used) and bill length. Various other measurements and notes, like its plumage and type of feathers, are recorded. If there's substantial-enough data, the bird's age and sex can also be determined, and in some cases, whether or not it's in a breeding or nesting condition.


Putting on the ring. Ringing allows each individual to be recognised, along with the data that was recorded from it. More can then be learnt about the long-term growth and habits of the bird when (if) it is recaught later.


This one's a real beauty. A migrant visitor, the Black-capped kingfisher.


Measuring the total length (relaxed and stretched) of the kingfisher.


It's been ringed before, so the serial number on its ring is noted and a picture of it is taken, just for the record.


Ouch... violent objections!


Emerald dove. Another uncommonly-seen bird. Bird-ringing sessions turn up the rare sights - owls and bats are quite common in the night sessions.


Rufous woodpecker. A little bird, but it's got a vicious peck which can easily draw blood. One can't blame it; it's a woodpecker, afterall!


Yellow bittern. For some reason, this bird looks much smaller in the hand than in the field.


Yellow-vented bulbul. A very common bird, seen and heard everywhere in S'pore.


Hmm... not a bird. Male Changeable lizard with its breeding colours. If you can read its movement from the photo, it's actually running. It was outside the hide and distracted me for a while.


A bird in flight - an egret. Unfortunately (or fortunately) they've never netted or ringed these birds.

posted by Husky @ 11:56 PM  |