Sandwich Tern Colour Ringing Project

As can be seen from the Terns and Gulls tab, the group have been ringing Sandwich Terns in Donegal since 1986 using metal rings only. In this tab you will be able to see the range of recoveries that have been achieved over the 30+ years with including 68 from the continent of Africa, eight of those in South Africa. What is surprising that (up to 2018) there were only eight recoveries in Ireland, three in Scotland, one in Wales and five in England.

With the support of the National Parks and Wildlife Service in Donegal, we decided to begin colour ringing Sandwich Terns in 2019 to try and increase the number of recoveries we get, with a particular interest in local movements in Ireland and the UK and begin to record birds retuning to the breeding colony, which so far, we've only recovered one, although lots of metal birds are noted but rings cannot be read. The colour rings will solve this problem and has begun to pay dividends in the first autumn of the project. 

 

In June 2019 we managed to colour the first cohort of chicks with 30 colour ringed. We have been allocated blue darvic colour rings with a three digit number in white like so - 501 - 530

Sandwich Tern 569 ringed on 15th June 2020

In the first autumn (2019) we got six recoveries of five birds which are mapped below.

Three travelled the Ayrshire coast of Scotland (one bird was recorded at two sites)

One travelled to Rhos Point, Conwy, Wales

One travelled to County Wexford

As Sandwich Terns do not reach sexual maturity until 3-4 years old, we don't expect to see the first returning birds back until 2022 but it will be interesting if any non-breeding birds return sooner.

The plan for 2020 was to really focus on colour ringing only and not place any focus on metal ringing birds. To avoid excess disturbance on the islet which supports a few thousand breeding birds (Sandwich Tern, Black-headed Gull, Common Tern, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Mallard) we are limited to an hours visit to land and depart. Unfortunately, as everywhere, the Covid-19 pandemic scuppered plans with tight lockdown restrictions meaning travel to Donegal and bird ringing was not permissible until June. One visit did take place late in the season on June 15th but with social distancing measures in place, only two people were present. A further 39 well developed chicks were ringed 531-570.

We are very keen for your sightings so if you see any of our birds, please send the sightings to Richard.Donaghey89(at)gmail.com

To be updated: Interactive Control Map

All the colour ringed Sandwich Terns are marked at the Inch Island Wildfowl Reserve on a small islet in the centre of the man-made lagoon. The site is owned and managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service who also maintain the islet for the benefit of the breeding terns and gulls.

 

Our thanks to the National Parks and Wildlife Service who enable access to the islet and for the purchase of the BTO metal rings and colour rings.