Interrupted CES

Post date: Aug 20, 2017 12:11:25 PM

Although I have been silent this year, my constant-effort ringing site at Krankesjön was active and the first five sessions were undertaken as in previous years. Numbers were normal, but one species was added to the list: Lesser-spotted Woodpecker/Mindre Hackspet (Dendrocopus minor).

A second-year male Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (notice the old outer primary coverts)

As usual, the number of birds caught per sessions and year are fully described in the Results sub-webpage, so there is no need to repeat them here. This year, however, I went to Portugal on holidays and could not find a competent, available replacement to continue the CES in my absence. Hence, this year's effort is lower than in previous years and the number of birds caught is not comparable. The gathered data is still useful though, as birds ringed in previous years were retrapped, thus contributing to estimate their survival. Furthermore, the CES can and will continue next year, as it is still useful to calculate population trends. I might take up one or two trainees though, which could potentially help me maintain the ringing effort in the future, so if you're interested, or know someone who is, do contact me!

Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris), one of the latest migrants to arrive to the CES

As I had already missed a few sessions of the CES, I decided to return to Portugal to study the migration of Aquatic Warblers (Acrocephalus paludicola), a globally-threatened species with which I continue to work with, but haven't been able to ring many in the last couple of years. It has been good so far, with 10 adults caught by myself and collaborators. These results will be described in my personal webpage.

In parallel with the CES, I have been working on House Sparrows (Passer domesticus), which this year might become one of the most ringed species by myself in Sweden!

JMN