Language: English
In an attempt to standardise elements of the station routine, Bird Ringing Station Manual describes the procedures used in passerine and wader ringing stations. It offers a comparative analysis of versatile evaluation techniques such as measurements, orientation experiments and monitoring. The authors meticulously analyse different methods used to track birds, including catching passerines with mist-nets in land and wetland habitat, as well as the use of the Heligoland trap. Bird Ringing Station Manual, as a successful bid to establish a bird station routine that is favourable to both birds and ringers, will benefit all professional and amateur ringers.
Preface x
Introduction xvi
Part I: The Passerine Station
1. Methods of the Field Work 2
2. Passerine Station Field Equipment 8
3. Passerine Station Laboratory Equipment 31
4. Arrangement of the Netting Area 51
5. Using Catching Devices 62
6. Passerine Station Laboratory Methods 81
7. Passerine Station Laboratory Working Routine 118
Part II: The Wader Station
8 .Wader Catching Techniques 130
9. Wader Station Laboratory Equipment 145
10. Wader Station Laboratory Methods 148
11. Wader Station Laboratory Working Routine 159
12. Wader Counts 160
Part III: General Issues
13. Training Beginners: Bird Measurements 164
14. Bird Mortality and Welfare 166
15. Ringer's Safety and Health 176
16. Alternative Methods of Holding and Measuring Birds 184
17. Non Standard Ringing Procedures 193
18. Julian Date and Pentade Numbering 198
References 201
List of Figures 203
List of Tables 209
Index 210
"[...] From the perspective of a British ringer, this book gives a slightly different view of some aspects of ringing which readers should find interesting."
– Robert Skeates, British Birds, Volume 110, February 2017
"The authors of this publication have a long history of ringing, and have been instrumental in setting up many bird ringing stations, mostly in Eastern Europe. The results of their experience are distilled in this clear and well-laid out volume. It aims to provide guidelines for setting up a ringing station from scratch and seems aimed particularly at those with little or no ringing experience. Its great strength is that it starts from the very basics of setting up a set, through to suggestions as how best to code up data. For British and Irish ringers, little will (or should be!) new, as most of the information is covered in the Ringers' Manual (Redfern & Clark 2000), but for those operating in countries where ringers to learn from may be few and far between, it will be invaluable. A key goal in publishing the book is the authors' desire to better standardise ringing activities so the results may be more useful for conservation and science. Its thoroughness and clarity mean it certainly deserves to succeed, and, if it does, it will be a valuable contribution to the global ringing literature."
– Rob Robinson, BTO book reviews