A dedicated group of volunteers carries out weekly bird ringing surveys at Kenfig National Nature Reserve, throughout the year
Bird ringing involves the erection of a fine net across areas where birds are known to fly. Birds getting caught in the net are quickly and safely removed. The birds are counted and identified, and a small ring is attached to the bird’s leg. The ring records when and where the bird was captured, so that it can be identified later buy other recorders. Measurements are taken and the birds are weighed before being released. The information from these surveys goes into a national database, and adds to our knowledge of the movements of birds and their condition.
Operating a ringing net requires a lot of training and expertise, and only fully qualified and trained ‘ringers’ are allowed to handle the birds.
At Kenfig on an average day in the spring or autumn , up to 70 birds are caught, measured and released, and upwards of 40 species are regularly recorded. These sometimes include rare ‘migrant’ birds passing through Kenfig, which is an important stopping off point for birds on migration. Recent records include a number of Firecrests and Yellow-browed Warblers.
