Andy and I arranged to meet up at Gulf Lane this morning to test our latest theory about Linnets - we catch better on frosty mornings?
There was a ground frost and a temperature of -1° at 0800.
We had been here on Saturday 4th January and despite a spot count of 400 Linnets we caught a big fat zero, not a single one; the Linnets just weren't interested, this in contrast to 2nd January when we had a catch of twenty-seven. The difference between the two days was - on January 2nd there’s been an overnight frost followed by an icy morning of -2.5°. In total contrast the morning of Saturday 4th January was much warmer at 7°C. My post, Another Bird Blog of 2nd January - “Twenty seven was our best catch of the winter, probably helped by the frosty start and the Linnets’ keenness to eat”.
These are wintering Linnets only, ones which and dependent upon the coming weather, may be back on their way North as early as March. That leaves us just eight or ten weeks to reach our target of 200 new Linnets for the winter period. Another 100 to go.
We set the nets followed by another bucket of millet and rape seed then waited for the Linnet’s arrival. Although the Linnets arrived in good numbers – up to 300, we caught just four. All four were females today. So although it’s back to the drawing board for our next theory, we do not give up so easily and remain convinced that catches will improve.
Linnet - First winter/second calendar year female
Linnet - First winter/second calendar year female
“Ringing has been an important research tool for the conservation biologist over the last 100 years. Effective conservation of wild bird populations requires understanding of bird ecology, the factors driving population change, and evidence that proposed conservation measures can be effective. Bird-ringing studies can provide a wide range of data types to aid and inform this process, and in many cases these data are not available without the capture and marking of individual birds.”
The above is a summary of a paper from Ringing and Migration “The value of ringing for bird conservation”, written in 2009 by Guy Q.A. Anderson and Rhys E. Green.
The full paper, too lengthy to post here, includes sections on:
- Movement between seasons in resident species
- Dispersal Migration routes and strategies
- Survival rates
- Productivity
- Genetic relationship
- How to improve the value of ringing for conservation gain
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228501270_The_value_of_ringing_for_bird_conservation
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7 comments:
Good morning Linnet Catcher Slade: Obviously other factors have to be considered, the colour of your clothes perhaps, are you clean shaven or grizzly, if you have showered try it next time without so doing, do you look Linnet-worthy, are you empathetic, perhaps your footwear crunches too much on the frosty ground, perhaps you have conveyed a subliminal preference for Fieldfare, detected by the Linnet’s fine extra sensory perception. Please take into account all these factors, and others no doubt, and report back on your level of success or failure. We will look forward to the next instalment of The Linnet Diaries. Oh, and thanks for the article on banding. I will be sure to read it later and perhaps even print a hard copy.
Interesting in what different climates make to catching Linnets Phil
I guess with birding and ringing one never stops learning 😉 Have a good day Diane
Interesting points you raise …
I just hope you do reach your target.
Once again I enjoyed your photographs.
All the best Jan
Your efforts to assist in this process is laudable. It must be nice to have birds migrating through your area this time of year. Most of our have migrated out and won't be back for quite some time. I sure miss their voices and antics. - Margy
love linnets you hardy soul-1
Phil - I have confidence in your British persistence! Keep Calm and Bird On!
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