Ventė Cape is situated on the coast of the Curonian Lagoon and is an important part of the bird migration route between the White Sea and the Baltic Sea. Hundreds of bird species pass Ventė Cape each year, their numbers reaching as high as a million per day during the fall migration. The Ventė Cape Ornithological Station has been operating at this geographically unique location for almost a hundred years now. Every year, the Station bands around a hundred thousand birds. The Ventė Cape Ornithological Station is one of the oldest bird-ringing stations in Europe. It was established in 1929 by Professor Tadas Ivanauskas upon the recommendation of Mikas Posingis, the keeper of the Ventė Cape Lighthouse.
Why do we ring birds?
Bird banding comes in a variety of forms and methods and is aimed at collecting data about these magnificent animals. In addition to information on wintering ranges and migration routes, ringing provides other important data aiding in the research of the various biological and ecological aspects of birds, such as their lifespans, death causes, pre-migratory restlessness and the prevalence of bird chicks. This information is key for the preparation and implementation of effective measures to protect the birds and their natural habitats.
Bird ringing methods
Metal and colored rings
Usually, metal rings with embossed or engraved unique ring number and the name of the ringing station that stores bird data are used for bird ringing. Rings can be of various sizes and forms and are individually adapted for different species of birds.
Some species of birds are banded with colored plastic rings, either with engravings or not. Swans, geese and coots may be ringed around the neck as well as their legs. To identify a specific ringed bird, one must know the placement of the ring, its color, engraved entry and its reading direction. This type of bird ringing is coordinated on both the national and international level to avoid recurrent rings of the same color.
Telemetry devices: loggers and transmitters
Loggers are microelectronic devices equipped with a photometer or a GPS unit that is set to measure a spectrum of light or record the location of a bird. Special algorithms are used to calculate the bird location coordinates on the basis of the collected data.
Transmitters are designed to monitor birds remotely and can be either the satellite or the GSM type. The satellite transmitters transmit the collected data to researchers via the artificial satellites orbiting the Earth. The GSM satellites have integrated GSM modules that allow transfer of data via mobile networks. All transmitters have GPS units that record the geographical coordinates of the location of the bird. Modern transmitters are often equipped with batteries and additional sensors that allow for the monitoring of bird behavior and environmental conditions.
Ringing is not only for birds
The Ventė Cape Ornithological Station rings both birds and bats. These mammals have been ringed at the station since 1978, that is, for half of a century. As many as two thousand bats are ringed per year. The most prevalent bat species are the Nathusius pipistrelle, soprano pipistrelle and common pipistrelle. The bat ringing season lasts from May to October while their migration is most intense from August to September.
Does ringing hurt the birds?
The answer to this question is a straightforward one – no, provided that the bird has been ringed correctly. The professional qualification of bird ringing experts and the quality of the used equipment is of utmost importance in ensuring the welfare of the birds. Modern technology has done wonders in the manufacture of rings and devices that comply with all the applicable quality requirements and are absolutely safe for birds.
Do birds feel any discomfort caused by wearing the ring? The ring weighs no more than 0.5% of the body mass of the respective bird, which is less than a wad of grass, a straw or a twig carried by the bird for nest making or the food brought for the chicks.
What to do if you encounter a ringed bird?
If you find a ringed bird or a bat, please fill the Ringed Bird Encounter Report, which you can find at the Ringing Center section of the website of the Kaunas Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum. Each report is important and highly valued by the bird ringing experts!
Support the Ventė Cape Ornithological Station
Contribute to the activities of the Ventė Cape Ornithological Station! Your support will help us purchase bird and bat ringing equipment which is invaluable in collecting the data about the migration, habitat and behavior of these wondrous animals.
We welcome all companies, organizations and individuals who wish to support Ventė Cape. Your support means a lot to us and helps us to protect and preserve this unique oasis of nature and science for future generations.
