By Izzy Fry.
Photo: Izzy Fry.
The wonder of bird migration has fascinated and puzzled people for centuries. For so long, their movements were unknown and their lives a secret.
For over 100 years, we have been slowly unravelling the secrets of birds using ringing. Run by the British Trust for Ornithology, the ringing scheme is one of the longest running conservation studies.
Bird ringing involves a trained and licensed ringer fitting a light-weight, uniquely numbered ring to a wild bird’s leg. This allows movements to be tracked if the bird is encountered again (this can be through it being seen in the field, caught by another ringer or from dead birds).
When ringing began, it provided the first information on bird’s migration. It answered the questions of where different species go after leaving our shores.
Today ringing is still helping us to understand migration, but it is also used to look in detail at the lives of birds; helping us to monitor breeding success and changes in birds populations.
We catch the birds in a number of ways, but the most common being mist nets. Mist nets are typically made of nylon or polyester suspended between two poles – they are very hard to see when you don’t know they are there! The birds fly into the nest and fall into little pockets where they stay until we carefully extract them.
Mist nets are commonly used by bird ringers. Photo: Izzy Fry
I have been ringing for just over a year, and have really enjoyed it! I have learnt so much more about individual species and about the science behind conservation. My group operates throughout Wiltshire, Dorset and Hampshire in a range of different habitats from woodland and farmland, to scrub in chalk grassland. It is wonderful to be involved in bird ringing and contribute to a conservation effort!
Find more from Izzy:
We support the conservation of British birds by donating 10% of the sale of our puffin and woodpecker ranges to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).
Check them out below.
Invite nature inside with our Creature Candy print featuring a beautiful hand drawn image of a puffin Fratercula arctica. Each print is presented on textured paper, giving the image a sense of depth and realism.
Available in A4.
Designed and made in England.
Prints are unframed and printed on sustainably sourced paper.
10% of the purchase price will be donated to the wildlife charities we support.
Seconds items, with very minor marks.
A stylish soft grey Creature Candy melamine placemat featuring a beautiful hand drawn image of a puffin Fratercula arctica.
Designed and made in England.
Dimensions: 28.2cm x 20.5cm
10% of the purchase price will be donated to The British Trust for Ornithology.
A stylish soft grey melamine coaster featuring a beautiful hand drawn image of a puffin Fratercula arctica. Puffin placemat, mug and jug also available.
Designed and made in England.
Dimensions: 9.8cm x 9.8cm
10% of the purchase price will be donated to the British Trust for Ornithology.
Keep in touch with your loved ones with our range of Creature Candy greetings cards. This card features a beautiful hand drawn image of a puffin Fratercula arctica. Cards are A6 size, blank inside and come with a light grey envelope.
Printed on FSC certified paper.
Designed and made in England.
10% of the purchase price will be donated to The British Trust for Ornithology.
PLEASE NOTE: these aprons are ex-display and so may be a little bit grubby in places, particularly on the straps. Nothing a wash will not get out! They are non refundable for this reason.
This clean, fresh 100% cotton Creature Candy apron features a beautiful hand drawn image of a lesser spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos minor. A perfect gift for lovers of baking, or those with a fondness for birds and nature.
Designed and made in England.
Machine washable at 40℃.
Size: 83cm x 57cm with adjustable neck strap and large front pocket.
10% of the purchase price will be donated to the British Trust for Ornithology.
Did you know? Lesser spotted woodpeckers are not a common bird throughout the UK, and can only be found in certain areas, mainly isolated to the south of England. They are almost non-existent in the north of England.
Invite nature inside with our Creature Candy print, featuring a beautiful hand drawn image of a lesser spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos minor. Each print is presented on textured paper, giving the image a sense of depth and realism.
Available in A4.
Designed and made in England.
Prints are unframed and printed on sustainably sourced paper.
10% of the purchase price will be donated to the wildlife charities we support.
Did you know? There is a distinct difference between males and females, the clearest feature being the crimson-red crown of the male. Females, on the other hand, are almost entirely black and white, and feature no colour at all.
Keep in touch with your loved ones with our range of Creature Candy greetings cards. Our woodpecker card features a beautiful hand drawn image of a lesser spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos minor. Cards are A6 size, blank inside and come with a light grey envelope.
Printed on FSC certified paper.
Designed and made in England.
10% of the purchase price will be donated to the wildlife charities we support.
Did you know? Like all woodpeckers, lesser spotted woodpeckers live in tree cavities which they create themselves, with most of the work being undertaken by males.
