A (very) slow start

Post date: May 10, 2016 2:30:39 PM

This year's first session of the constant effort ringing site at Krankesjön took place on May, the 9th. It's the third year of this CES and I hope to complete all the required sessions, so that the number of birds caught are comparable and contribute to calculate trends.

Despite the great weather, only eight birds were caught: two Chiffchafs (one of which was a retrap), two Reed Buntings, one Willow Warbler, one Chaffinch, one Robin and one Thrush Nightinghale. Four of these birds (both Chiffchaffs, the Chaffinch and one Reed Bunting) already had fully developed brood patches, indicating that they initiated incubation, though one Chiffchaff was still carrying an egg. The Nightingale was my first record of the year, and there were actually two males singing nearby, of which only one was caught. (By the way, Garden Warblers, a Red-backed Shrike and a Pied Flycatcher were also seen nearby, adding to my annual microbirding list for Lunds kommun!)

Female Reed Bunting

Thrush Nightingale, who compensates its dull plumage with a great song!

There were quite a few birds around, and I suppose I was just a bit unlucky. Many more ringing sessions are needed to assess the local bird abundance (the CES methods includes 12 sessions per year). Indeed, earlier last week (2 May), I performed a ringing demonstration nearby, to my Animal Behaviour students from Lund University, during which 20 birds were caught: Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Lesser Whitethroat, Great Tit, Blackcaps, Dunnock and Chaffinch.

Next CES session also coincides with a ringing demonstration (for the Faunistik students), and hopefully many more birds will be caught. Other sessions will take place around Krankesjön, to collect samples for various projects, especially for a bird malaria study. More info then!

Júlio M. Neto