All Ireland Bird Ringing Data

Over the past few months I have been compiling all Ireland ringing information into a single data set.  I have been taking information from various sources, including the BTO online ringing reports for the period of 2007-2014 and Irish Bird Journals covering back to 1975.  Before this date the data is very patchy and I have only been able to incorporate bits and pieces.  I have extracted the odd record from old Irish bird reports but these tend to be where there is mention of scarcities/rarities being trapped.

Another source of information I am currently seeking is old Bird Observatory reports - pre 1977.  Thus far I have managed to source reports for Rathlin Island BO and Tory Island BO from the 60's and a large portion from Copeland BO reports.  I have also received a full record for Cape Clear BO from Birdwatch Ireland going back to the 60's.  I have yet to get any feedback for Saltee BO,  Loop Head BO and Malin Head BO, so if you have any contacts, please let me know.
As the data, pre 1975, is limited, I will only focus only scarcities and rarities in that period.  The current Irish ringing species list I have accrued stands at over 270 species, although a few sub species need removing and there a few new species to add, particularly yanks. 

The data of course is not perfect, with overlooked late submissions, altered records, missing data, mistakes by previous editors and my own mistakes.  This is unlikely to change for the foreseeable, until the BTO finally track back and digitise all the historic ringing data.... which might take a decade or two.  Where possible, I have tried to remove old records that have since been deemed unacceptable by the IRBC, particularly for the likes of Greenish, Bonelli's and Olivaceous Warblers.
The data should therefore be taken at face value - it isn't perfect but is representative and fit for purpose.

 I will try and graph the 'All Ireland' totals from 1975, with North and South separate from 1977.  At this stage I will focus on passerines, near passerines and birds of prey.  I will also map the recoveries of these groups coming into and out of Northern Ireland, for the species with many recoveries and all Ireland for those with few (but omitting most inter Irish movements).

The data will go in someway to present the population trends in some species but for some species it is flawed.  Changes in techniques, improved equipment, the use of tape lures, the number of ringers & their effort, the closure of Bird Observatories, BTO periodic species targets (i.e. Swallow Roosts, Sedge Warblers in Ireland) and changes in birds behaviour (Finch species visiting feeders for example) etc. all have a huge affect, meaning it is not truly representative.
The BTO has national standardised programmes in place such as Constant Effort Site (CES) scheme and Retrapping Adults for Survival (RAS) scheme which are fantastic for assessing population dynamics, along with the Nest Record Scheme (NRS).

I will update the list below as I gradually filter out the species, post by post!


Species Links


Barn Owl
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/irish-bird-ringing-data-owls.html

Long-eared Owl
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/irish-bird-ringing-data-owls.html

Short-eared Owl
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/irish-bird-ringing-data-owls.html

Goldcrest
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/irish-bird-ringing-data-crests-and-tits.html

Firecrest
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/irish-bird-ringing-data-crests-and-tits.html

Blue Tit
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/irish-bird-ringing-data-crests-and-tits.html

Great Tit
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/irish-bird-ringing-data-crests-and-tits.html

Coal Tit
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/irish-bird-ringing-data-crests-and-tits.html

Bearded Tit
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/irish-bird-ringing-data-crests-and-tits.html

Long-tailed Tit
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/irish-bird-ringing-data-crests-and-tits.html

Blackcap
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/irish-bird-ringing-data-tree-grass-and.html

Garden Warbler
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/irish-bird-ringing-data-tree-grass-and.html

Barred Warbler
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/irish-bird-ringing-data-tree-grass-and.html

Lesser Whitethroat
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/irish-bird-ringing-data-tree-grass-and.html

Whitethroat
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/irish-bird-ringing-data-tree-grass-and.html

Subalpine Warbler
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/irish-bird-ringing-data-tree-grass-and.html

Grasshopper Warbler
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/irish-bird-ringing-data-tree-grass-and.html

Icterine Warbler
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/irish-bird-ringing-data-tree-grass-and.html

Melodious Warbler
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/irish-bird-ringing-data-tree-grass-and.html

Ring Ouzel
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/irish-bird-ringing-data-thrushes.html

Blackbird
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/irish-bird-ringing-data-thrushes.html

Fieldfare
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/irish-bird-ringing-data-thrushes.html 

Song Thrush
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/irish-bird-ringing-data-thrushes.html 

Redwing
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/irish-bird-ringing-data-thrushes.html 

Mistle Thrush
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/irish-bird-ringing-data-thrushes.html 

Spotted Flycatcher
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/irish-bird-ringing-data-pied-red.html

Red-breasted Flycatcher
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/irish-bird-ringing-data-pied-red.html

Pied Flycatcher
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/irish-bird-ringing-data-pied-red.html

Greenfinch
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/irish-ringing-data-goldfinch-and.html

Goldfinch
http://causewaycoastrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/irish-ringing-data-goldfinch-and.html


Other ringed species without focus:

Scops Owl - See Owls
Snowy Owl - See Owls
Little Owl - See Owls
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - See Crests
Dartford Warbler - See Sylvia Warblers
Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler - See Grass Warblers
Booted Warbler - See Tree Warblers
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler - See Tree Warblers
White's Thrush - See Thrushes
Grey-cheeked Thrush - See Thrushes
Collard Flycatcher - See Flycatchers


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