Last week our ringing team, assisted by expert tree climbers, visited the local heronry in order to colour-ring a sample of Grey Heron chicks. This heronry has been monitored since 1977 by Natural England and the Lower Derwent Valley team as part of the BTO’s annual heronry census, where an early nest count in April is followed by a second visit in early June. A total of 219 chicks have been ringed in the heronry over the years, with over 100 fitted with individual identifiable yellow numbered colour-rings.
From the data collected during this time, it has shown that soon after fledging the young birds tend to disperse north into North Yorkshire, Cleveland and Northumberland, although one individual headed south into Derbyshire. In most years, the young leave the heronry and go straight onto Wheldrake Ings to feed before dispersing – so please keep your eyes peeled over the next few weeks (the first large broods will be fledging in the coming days), and please leave any records of colour-ringed birds in the hide log books provided, or send us the details via our social media accounts, thank you.
More details and ringing recoveries/maps can be found in the new Birds of the Lower Derwent Valley book - to order yourself a copy please contact Lucy.Murgatroyd@naturalengland.org.uk
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