North West Swan Study
The North West Swan Study was formed in 1988 to study the
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) population of the North West of England. This
area encompasses Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cumbria, Merseyside (north of
the River Mersey) and the Isle of Man, a total of approximately 12,250 sq km.
The method employed is to mark ( or "ring" ) individual birds with uniquely numbered leg rings so that they may be identified on future occasions.
The Study Group
The group consists of
several bird ringers who are licensed by the British Trust for Ornithology. The
main ringers currently involved are Wes Halton (Bolton), Jack Sheldon (Barrow in
Furness), Dr Steve Christmas (Manchester),
Charlie Findley (The Fylde) and Dave Sharpe (Isle of Man). In addition other interested individuals assist
in recording ring numbers and on ringing expeditions.
The ringers are rigorously trained and operate under strict guidelines to ensure that the birds are neither harmed in any way or subjected to excess disturbance during the ringing process.
The study, which is one of several in Great Britain, is assisted by The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and affiliated to the International Wildfowl Research Bureau.
The Ringing Process
Swans are caught by
several methods, but most
often by simply feeding and then grabbing hold of them by hand or with a swan
hook, which is similar to a small shepherd's crook. The swan's legs and wings
are then restrained using elasticated bandage to protect both it and the ringer
before the ringing process takes place.
Each swan is fitted with two
rings, one is a
metal ring issued by the British Trust for Ornithology with a unique number and
normally lasts for the bird's lifetime.
The second is a large plastic ring
(various colours are in use nationally but the North West Study use a blue ring
with white characters).The latter
can be easily read in the field and alleviates
the need to re-catch the swan to identify it on subsequent occasions and allows
the public to record any swans that they may see. After the actual ringing the
swan's age and sex is assessed and various measurements along with its weight
are recorded . The swan
is then immediately released.
The original ringing information is stored on a computer database, to which is added all further sightings of ringed birds, breeding successes, causes of death etc. This database now contains a large amount of information on over 4300 individual swans, and is regularly analysed to monitor trends in movements and sudden increases in the death rate etc.
The group welcome reports of sightings of swans from members of the public. A full copy of the information on each swan seen is sent to people who report details of ringed birds seen to the group.
Reporting Swan Sightings
If you wish to
assist the group with any sightings of swans please include the following
details:- Date, Location (with OS grid reference if possible); number of swans present (ringed and
unringed); a contact phone number if possible
If you require further information or wish to submit records of ringed
swans please contact :- Wes Halton, 6 Hilary Grove, Farnworth, Bolton, Lancs.
BL4 9NA.
Tel 01204 709302 click here to
email us !