Aims of colour-ringing

Colour-ringing, or generally speaking colour-marking, is a valuable research tool for a variety of bird studies.

Short term research, such as detailed behavioural investigations of activities and interactions of a particular set of birds in a restricted area, or long-term research on demography and population dynamics, movements between breeding and wintering areas, phenology and migration strategies may be greatly improved by colour-ringing.

The use of colour marks, which are visible and legible at distance, dispense with the need to recapture birds to read the ring inscription as is typical of conventional metal rings.

Some examples from pictures taken in the field
Cormorants
Colour-ringing projects
 
Webmaster: Stefano Volponi
svolponi @ racine.ra.it
Last updated: 25-10-2008

More details on colour-ringing

For an introduction on colour-ringing techniques and information on projects in Europe navigate the Dirk Raes colour-ring birding site.

For more information on what is scientific bird ringing, what are methods of bird ringing and what is the role of bird ringing for understanding bird biology and ecology, as well as recognizing and addressing population and habitat conservation issues see the EURING brochure on Bird Ringing in Science and Environmental Management.

For examples and information on colour ring coding:

Cormorant colour-ring styles
How to code colour-marks: the BTO code
English:
link - pdf / Français: link

P. carbo projects newanim.gif (416 byte)

Arranged by:
Ring style updated 25-10-08
Ring colour updated 25-10-08
Country of origin updated 25-10-08

Untraced cr-cormorants

Mysterious cr-cormorants

updated 30.04.2008

most recent entries newanim.gif (416 byte)

Country Left Right Day

Note

SP none

many times in 2005 and 2006

No nesw or info for this bird

DK metal

Apr 2008

Solved
the right code was SABT adult ringed in Spain

         

Other species projects

Pygmy cormorant P. pygmeus updated 25-10-08
European shags P. aristotelis updated 25-10-08
Double-crested cormorant P. auritus  
Other cormorants Phalacrocorax sp.  

Ringing resources

Bibliography (links):
General - Aging/Sexing - Special markers - Technics
Supply (links): BBL -
Important Remark on Colour-ringing in Europe
ALL recoveries of metal ringed birds MUST be reported to the finder's national ringing centre or to the address on the ring (see European Ringing Schemes at the EURING website);
If not otherwise stated, ALL recoveries of birds wearing color-rings as well as ALL colour-ring readings must be reported to the finder's national ringing scheme.

- For birds recovered or seen in the following countries all data
MUST be reported to the national ringing centre, respectively at the Helgoland Ringing Office for Germany, Vogeltrekstation Arnhem for Netherlands, Istituto Nazionale Fauna Selvatica for Italy. This is a legal requirement and condition of being issued with a license to colour-ring birds.

- In some countries data on colour-ringed birds should be instead reported to the national colour-ring coordinators: for Denmark Jacob Sterup / for France L. Marion / for Finland the Ringing Centre / for United Kingdom S. Newson

In order to avoid overlapping of colour ringing project - well before starting a colour-ringing project - all ringers MUST contact their national ringing centre and the cormorant colour-ring coordinator/s

Coordinators for all European colour-ring projects are:
-
Stef van Rijn Institute for Inland Water Management and Wastewater Treatment (RIZA), P.O. box 17, NL-8200 AA Lelystad, THE NETHERLANDS;
-
Stefano Volponi Wetlands International Cormorant Research Group, ITALY