We needed to abandon our Retrapping Adults for Survival challenge for Linnets at Mwnt in 2019 because of the pandemic and the next surge in ‘staycationing’ making continued operation of the location inconceivable.
In 2022 we have been fortunate to search out a way more secluded web site on the Pembrokeshire coast between Cemaes Head and Newport, together with a sympathetic and supportive landowner. We began ringing Linnets there to see if it will assist a substitute RAS challenge.
It quickly grew to become apparent that the potential was there. By the tip of August 2022 we had ringed 137 breeding adults (80 male, 57 feminine) and 310 juveniles, utilizing a single whoosh web baited with rape-seed. September and October purchased an extra 183 captures (of which solely 10 have been adults) these most likely largely both dispersing or passage birds shifting south.
The primary Linnets arrived again on their breeding territories in good numbers by the third week of March 2023, and by the tip of Might over 50 birds ringed in 2022 had been re-captured, at which level it was apparent that registration as a RAS challenge was greater than justified, backdated to the beginning of ringing in April 2022.
The 2023 RAS breeding season formally completed right now, by which period we had recaptured 77 of the birds ringed in 2022 (42 male, 35 feminine), and ringed an extra 159 breeding adults (86 male, 73 feminine) and 371 juveniles. This implies that the minimal breeding inhabitants inside foraging distance of our catching web site is 128 pairs, assuming 100% seize – which is in fact unlikely.
Many, many thanks are attributable to our hosts Gill and Roger, and to all of the ringers, each Teifi-based and guests, who’ve helped with this effort to this point. I would add that three devoted ringers, Wendy and Alison from Teifi, and most lately Wayne from Gower Ringing Group have earned their very own whoosh-netting licenses because of their involvement with with the initiatives right here and at Mwnt.
