Do lettered rings on Swans mean anything? (1 Viewer)

[mcdowella]

This morning I saw a Swan with lettered leg ring SJH (orange background) at Caen hill locks, Devizes (just downhill from Trust Lock, on the opposite side of the canal to the pub). It was about six foot from me, almost snoozing on the grass (bill buried in its feathers, but eyes just clear). I assume it was a Mute swan, but since the bill was hidden, don't know for sure.

Is this a ringed bird in the sense that somebody somewhere is tracking it and would actually want to know this, or is it just an identity tag on a bird whose whereabouts are probably perfectly well known? Being able to get so close to the bird and read the lettering without even binoculars feels like cheating.

 

[Mike Pennington]

This morning I saw a Swan with lettered leg ring SJH (orange background) at Caen hill locks, Devizes (just downhill from Trust Lock, on the opposite side of the canal to the pub). It was about six foot from me, almost snoozing on the grass (bill buried in its feathers, but eyes just clear). I assume it was a Mute swan, but since the bill was hidden, don't know for sure.

Is this a ringed bird in the sense that somebody somewhere is tracking it and would actually want to know this, or is it just an identity tag on a bird whose whereabouts are probably perfectly well known? Being able to get so close to the bird and read the lettering without even binoculars feels like cheating.

There are several schemes colour-ringing Mute Swans and all of them will want to know where their birds are. It may well be that the location of SJH is well known (as you say, they're big and tame and easy to find) but equally it could be a bird which has gone missing and they'd be glad to know about it.

As a first contact I suggest sending an e-mail to [email protected] at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge, Glos. If she doesn't have the details she should be able to put you in touch with someone who does.

 

[mcdowella]

Thanks for the info - message sent. If it's useful to somebody else, I'd rather have a mute swan ring sighting than a black-winged stilt tick (they look so cartoonish on video that I'd love to see them in real life).

 

[Swandan]

The big plastic coloured rings on swans are known as Darvic rings. These were started by the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology as part of the institutes studies into lead poisoning. The studies are now defunct, but swans are continued to be rung for convinience factors.

You may also notice a smaller metal ring on the other leg which is known as a BTO ring. The same goes for these.

The rings can be particularly usefull, especially in our parts around Worcestershire as a swan rescue group, as we are able to identify which pairs are which, where a swan may have come from, and what they have previously been rescued for (if it is the case).

It has to be said that many of these rings cause injury to the birds and as the Swan Sanctuary at Egham suggests, these rings should be stopped immediately and old darvic rings removed as a code of practice to prevent any injuries. They also are asking the BTO to justify their ringing of the birds.

I like the rings purely for convinience factors and believe that thr ringer for the Worcester area does a fantastic job at ringing the birds as ive come across next to none injuries. However I do believe in what the swan sanctuary at Egham suggests and questions need to be asked.

Dan

 

[Swandan]

PS - not sure of who the ringer is for the Caen hill locks area, but keep an eye out on cygnets in the area as you'll find that they will be rung shortly.

Talking of Caen Hill Locks I believe that a number of badgers are being culled in cage traps by the Government close the the locks because of bTB.