![\"\"](\"http:\/\/wakefieldnaturalists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017-Ringing-2-webpic.jpg\")
Peregrine chicks<\/p><\/div>\n
The youngsters were collected from the nestbox and ringing was carried out inside the spire, out of sight of the parents.\u00a0This was done by members of the Sorby Breck Ringing Group. The ringers are licensed to ring birds such as peregrines, which are given special protection as “Schedule 1” birds.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/wakefieldnaturalists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017-Ringing-3-webpic.jpg\")
Ringing a peregrine<\/p><\/div>\n
The young birds were fitted with metal BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) rings. This type of\u00a0ring carries a number which can be reported to the Natural History Museum if a bird is found dead or injured.\u00a0Each peregrine was also given a plastic ring carrying just three letters. These letters can be read on live birds using binoculars or telescopes. The plastic rings provide the opportunity for receiving information about the movements of the peregrines in the future. The three rings used were orange and carried the letters PAA, PBA and PCA. PAA and PCA are females, whilst PBA is a male.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/wakefieldnaturalists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017-Ringing-1-webpic.jpg\")
Taking measurements of a peregrine chick<\/p><\/div>\n
The chicks were weighed and this was the key to deciding the sex of each youngster. Females are larger than males and the largest of the Wakefield chicks weighed 1.1 kg. The smallest chick, the male, weighed only 750g. As you can see form the picture, other measurements were taken.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/wakefieldnaturalists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017-Ringing-4-webpic.jpg\")
Barn owl chick<\/p><\/div>\n
Whilst they were in the area, the ringers arranged to ring four barn owl chicks which are growing well in a nestbox maintained by Danny Kirmond.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/wakefieldnaturalists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017-Ringing-5-webpic.jpg\")
Little owl chicks<\/p><\/div>\n
Danny also has a little owl box containing a brood of young little owls. The ringers were\u00a0able to ring those. When they went to do this, they found an adult in the box, so they took the opportunity to ring that too.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/wakefieldnaturalists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017-Ringing-6-webpic.jpg\")
Adult little owl<\/p><\/div>\n
It was quite a productive day for the ringers and we are grateful to them\u00a0for taking the time to deal with our peregrines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A big event on the peregrine calendar is the ringing of the peregrine chicks. This year’s ringing took place on Saturday, 27th May, when the youngsters were three weeks and four days old. The youngsters were collected from the nestbox … Continue reading