Some fantastic news from two of our managed moorlands in the Yorkshire Dales.
We have two successful Merlin nests, the chicks have been rung this week for monitoring purposes by a BTO schedule one licensed holder.
As part of a scheme ran by Natural England some gamekeepers in the dales have also been granted a schedule one license.
Ringing generates information on the survival, productivity and movements of birds, helping us to understand why populations are changing.
The British and Irish Ringing Scheme is organised by the BTO. (British Trust for Ornithology)
Over 900,000 birds are ringed in Britain and Ireland each year by over 2,600 trained ringers, most of whom are volunteers.
Ringing birds is essential if we are to learn about how long they live and when and where they move, questions that are vital for bird conservation. Placing a lightweight, uniquely numbered, metal ring around a bird’s leg provides a reliable and harmless method of identifying birds as individuals.
You can help with the monitoring by reporting any ringed bird you find.
The merlin is an iconic moorland bird and also the smallest falcon found breeding in the British Isles.
Despite its size this species is a formidable predator particularly of other small birds. Most of its prey are caught in flight using its knowledge of the lie of the land, its speed and dashing flight. The merlin's small size and structure gives it the ability to manoeuvre very quickly when in pursuit of prey.
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