30 Years of CES Bird Ringing

Saturday, September 10th 2022

Since 1993, bird ringers at Foxglove have taken part in the Constant Effort Sites Scheme (CES). The Scheme run by the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) provides valuable trend information on abundance of adults and juveniles, productivity and also adult survival rates for 24 species of common songbird. During the CES period ringers operate the same nets in the same locations over the same time period at regular intervals through the breeding season at over 140 sites throughout Britain and Ireland. Foxglove Covert is one of these important sites. 

Lee Barber, Demographic Surveys Organiser for the BTO, sent out this message :

“It is now September and migration is well underway and with it comes the end of another CES season. We hope you had a good season and we extend our sincere thanks to you and everyone that helped out at your CES. This scheme does take time and dedication to complete the 12 sessions but the information it generates is unique and vital to our understanding of how the season has gone and how our birds fared.”

Although the data from all sites hasn't all been submitted yet, once it has a report will be compliled by the BTO. Last years report can be read on the BTO website.

The ambitious project has reached a 30 year anniversary at Foxglove which was the milestone that Tony Crease (who registered the Foxglove CES) hoped would be reached. In August 2017 after 25 years of the project he wrote:

“My very sincere thanks go to every single one of you who has helped create this remarkable achievement. Here I include the whole ringing group and all our volunteers and supporters, those that have strimmed and mowed our net rides in the rain.  The data is a major component in the song bird studies being carried out by the BTO and it is a credit to you all. I am deeply grateful to every one of you - this really is a major milestone.”

He hoped the work would continue until the 30th year and thanks to a team of dedicated volunteers his wish has been carried out. Thank you to all who have been involved throughout the years in this valuable research.


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