If you are interested in becoming a ringer or would like information about the Group, contact us at:

swlancsrg@googlemail.com

Tuesday 27 October 2009

Barn Owl Breeding Season Summary

Following another spring/summer of changeable and unfavourable weather, we can report that as a group we were able to ring 27 Barn Owl pullis. This year we found a high level of invasion of boxes by Jackdaws, probably a contributing factors to the lower numbers ringed this year. We should note however that there was at least two broods that we were unable to ring this year, that should have boosted the total to over 30.

Two Barn Owl chicks. Photo by Steve Binney
PHOTOS TAKEN UNDER SCHEDULE 1 LICENSE

This winter will provide a valuable opportunity for essential maintenance work to be carried out on boxes and a full survey of breeding sites.

PETER FEARON

Thursday 12 March 2009

Welcome to the new blog of the South West Lancashire Ringing Group, where you will be able to find news of the group's latest activities and findings.

Formed out of the partnership between Tony Duckels, Pete Fearon and the late Dave Low, the group formed in the late 1960's. The group's activities cover the area from the East Lancs Road to the M6 up to Preston, contained by the Sefton coast and Ribble estuary. The group is best known for it's work with Barn Owls and has operated a nest box scheme for over forty years. From the late 70's to the early 80's, the group operated a ringing program at the docks at Seaforth and ringed large numbers of Common Terns, Kittiwakes, Waders and Gulls. During this period over 400 Little Gulls were ringed by the group, which represents approximately 85% of all Little Gulls ringed in Great Britain. The group has also maintained a long-term study on Skylarks.

Ongoing ringing projects include several Constant Effort Sites, the Barn Owl nest box scheme, the monitoring of Wheatear migration, Swift ringing project and Duck cannon-netting on the Ribble Estuary, as well as general ringing.