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Whilst catching storks on Portuguese
landfill sites over the winter we also read over 200 stork colour rings. Many
gulls also visit landfill sites so I am not the only researcher who braves the
horrible sights and disgusting smells seeking ringed birds in the name of
science. Last November I met Peter Rock on a Portuguese landfill. He is
interested in behavioural differences between rural and urban gulls and uses
resightings of ringed birds to follow their movements. I always try to assist
him by noting down any gull rings I see when I am on the landfill, and he notes
down stork rings for me. There are many gull ringing schemes and Peter sends my
records off to the relevant recorders. Replies from them have been flooding in.
Gulls I recorded on landfill in Portugal have been ringed in NW England, Norway
and France –one was even a bird Peter had himself ringed in Bristol! Ringing
schemes provide marvelous insights into animal movement but they only work if
people submit their sightings. Always send any ringed bird sightings to your
local recorder or bird group and they will know who to forward them on to. If
you are in Portugal, Spain or anywhere in Africa keep a look out for ringed
storks for me!
