Press Releases - November/December 2007
Item 5

No. 2007/12/83
December 2007

Look out for colour-marked birds on the Stour-Orwell this winter

A large number of Dunlins and Redshanks will be colour marked on the Stour-Orwell this winter. This exciting new study will help to determine just how many birds use this important area for resting and feeding, and help to protect other sites that are used by waterbirds. All visitors to estuaries this winter can provide an invaluable contribution to this work.

The study launched in partnership with the British Trust for Ornithology, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Newton & Wright Ringing Group and Natural England, will aim to determine just how important estuaries like the Stour-Orwell are for wintering waterbirds. Over the winter a large number of Dunlin and Redshank will be fitted with individual combinations of brightly coloured rings, allowing each bird to be recognized. Volunteers will then collect regular counts and resightings of these birds as they feed and rest along the shores of the estuary.

The United Kingdom holds internationally important numbers of waterbirds (swans, ducks, geese, waders, etc.) during the winter, which are counted by a network of dedicated volunteers as part of the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) on around 5000 sites. One of the main functions of this information is to periodically update the national waterbird population estimates and to identify sites for protection. Volunteer ringers mark around 25,000 waterbirds each year (using lightweight metal rings) providing valuable information on survival and movements. Being able to identify individuals allows us to build up a detailed picture of how many birds actually use the estuary, and where the key areas for birds are at different times.

Based on peak counts of birds, sites are identified, designated and protected as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for holding nationally or internationally important numbers of waterbirds (1% of the national population and 1% of the flyway population respectively). Mark Rehfisch, Senior Ecologist at the BTO, said, “Although the relatively easy to obtain peak counts are used to designate sites, it is likely that more sites could be identified as being worthy of protection if the total number of birds making use of the site could be measured, and this is what we aim to do with this exciting study. It could mean many more sites being identified as SSSI’s and SPA’s”, he added.

If you are near to the coast in East Anglia this winter, please look out for colour-marked Dunlin and Redshank and send any sightings to Mick Wright and Paul Newton (E: T: 01473 710232). Please make sure that you record carefully the colour, position and leg (left or right) of all of the rings. Your sightings will help ensure that more sites worthy of conservation protection are identified.

Please see over for Notes for Editors

Notes for Editors

1. The turnover project is carried out in partnership with the British Trust for Ornithology, Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Natural England.
2. The Stour-Orwell SPA is a designated site, which is currently experiencing the most significant declines of internationally important species in the UK. As an added benefit the information collected may help to identify the causes of these declines.
3. The Wetland Bird Survey monitors the UK's waterbirds, and is entirely dependent upon the efforts of thousands of dedicated volunteers. To find out how to take part or to find more details about the scheme, visit www.bto.org/survey/webs/index.htm or e-mail . WeBS is funded by a partnership of the British Trust for Ornithology, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (on behalf of Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales, and also on behalf of the Environment and Heritage Service in Northern Ireland).
4. Bird ringing in Britain and Ireland is organised and co-ordinated by the British Trust for Ornithology. The BTO also host the EURING databank which holds ring recovery data gathered by bird ringing schemes throughout Europe, for further information please see, www.bto.org/ringing/index.htm. Part of the BTO Ringing Scheme is funded by a partnership of the BTO and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (on behalf of Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales, and also on behalf of the Environment and Heritage Service in Northern Ireland). The scheme also receives support from Duchas the Heritage Service – National Parks and Wildlife (Ireland). The volunteer ringers give freely of their time and expertise and also provide a substantial part of the Scheme’s funding.
5. Images of Dunlins and Redshanks to accompany this article can be obtained from Please quote reference number 2007/12/83
6. Radio Interviews. The BTO has a ISDN line available for radio interviews.

For further information please contact:

Mark Rehfisch (pronounced Rayfish) on 01842 750050 (during office hours) or email

Paul Stancliffe on 01842 750050 (during office hours) or email or
07845 900559 (anytime)