Bird ringing in Britain and Ireland in 1995

Abstract

This is the 59th annual report of the British Trust for Ornithology's Ringing Scheme and reports on the data received in 1995. 859,252 birds of 261 species were ringed. New species added to the Ringing Scheme's list were Hermit Thrush and Brünnich's Guillemot. There were small increases in the numbers of full‐grown birds (+0.3%) and nestlings (+2.1%) ringed. Changes in numbers of individual species, which cannot be explained by changes in ringer effort, included increases in Redstart and Cetti's Warbler and decreases in Long‐eared Owl and Brambling. It was probably the lack of cold weather which reduced the number of recoveries (12,415, down by 6%). The development of the Scientific Strategy of the BTO Ringing Scheme is discussed. Analysis of ringing and recovery data for Song Thrush showed that the significant change in the survival rate of juvenile birds is sufficient to explain the decline in population size. Work on Canada Geese identified factors associated with mobility which should be taken into account when considering control measures. Standardised summer catches at 114 Constant Effort Sites (CES) indicated good numbers of breeding song‐birds and good or average breeding success. However, declining catches of several finch and thrush species continued in 1995. Recovery data for over 50 species were provided to ornithologists for their research work.