The 2014 ringing total of 13,605 was the best since the formation of the group in 1963. It was made up of 96 species (97 in 2013) with 9,690 full grown and 3,915 pulli. Included were 1,197 at Hauxley (our best return since 2011), which was the result of combined activity at the ringing station (355), the reserve (430) and East Chevington (412). The overall total since we started in 1963 stands at 354,923 including 79,908 at Hauxley.
An article recently published, which is the result of all the hard work and long-term monitoring of Goshawks and Tawny owls in Kielder Forest by Steve Petty and group members Sarah Hoy, Brian Little, Martin Davison and many others over the last 30 years.
Read the paper on the Journal for Animal Ecology webpage.
Hoy, S. R., Petty, S. J., Millon, A., Whitfield, D. P., Marquiss, M., Davison, M., Lambin, X. (2014), Age and sex-selective predation moderate the overall impact of predators. Journal of Animal Ecology.
The 50th anniversary report of Northumbria Ringing Group can now be downloaded. It was put together by Northumbria Ringing Group members as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations and covers the history of the ringing group as well as accounts of some species that the group have studied in detail.
By Ian Kerr
A thriving Swallow population has long been a feature of my regular patch, Holy Island, and 2014 has proved by far the best year since I started monitoring and ringing the species more than a decade ago.
At least 78 broods, involving a minimum of 270 young, fledged around the village, harbour, St Coombs Farm, Snook House and the Lough. Many pair produced two broods and a small number of nests produced third broods although it was impossible to say if the same pairs were involved.
Whatever the circumstance, the 2014 breeding season far surpassed the previous record year of 2009 when 56 pairs fledged around 150 young. Continue reading
Northumbria Ringing Group 