Bird ringing has been undertaken in Alderney since the mid-1940s, largely down to the members of the Channel Islands Birds ringing scheme (CIBRS). This has produced extremely valuable and comprehensive data concerning our seabird colonies including the Island’s two Gannet colonies (Les Etacs and Ortac). Gannets have been ringed on a regular basis, providing some of the longest time series data on Gannet chicks in the British Isles. Other seabirds, with a long data time series of ringed birds, include European Storm Petrel and Lesser Black-backed Gull.
The ringing of land birds has been far less regular; the first sustained mist netting program beginning with the launch of the ABO in March 2016. Prior to this date almost all land bird ringing had been carried out by visiting researchers (often on holiday) from the other Channel Islands and/or the UK.
The Alderney Bird Observatory offers excellent ringing facilities at three sites across the Island. Our ringing research has made a major contribution to our understanding of the important role Alderney plays in Europe’s migration highways. Over 90,000 birds have been ringed since April 2016. We are delighted to welcome any licensed ringers (including trainees where supervision is available), from individuals to groups of up to ten. There is ample accommodation available on island at all levels. Visiting ringers will need to take out membership of the ABO (and we will arrange for them to be licensed with the CIBRS and the States of Alderney).
ABO members may view the ringing totals by year or species, here.
Further information about ringing can be obtained from Matt Scragg the ABO warden by
