Netherlands
Bird ringing for science and conservation is coordinated by Vogeltrekstation – Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography. Vogeltrekstation is a collaboration between the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) and the Ringers’ Association. Vogeltrekstation is hosted by NIOO-KNAW in Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Bird ringing in the Netherlands started on 24 May 1911, when 15 starlings were ringed. To date c.15 million birds have been ringed in the Netherlands, with an annual increase of c. 300,000. About 60,000 recoveries are reported annually. Vogeltrekstation is the only authority in the Netherlands that issues uniquely numbered metal bird rings for the identification of wild birds.
Ringing of wild birds is carried out by a network of c. 550 highly skilled and dedicated bird ringers, of which c. 450 are volunteers and 100 are professionals. Individual ringers are united in local ringing groups. A ringing permit can be obtained after a thorough training by a ‘mentor’ and two additional trainers during a period of one to several years, depending on the species group that is targeted, followed by a theoretical and a practical exam. Ringing permits are issued to individual ringers by Vogeltrekstation under a special license issued by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food quality (LNV).
Bird ringing in the Netherlands focuses primarily on:
- Demographic monitoring of breeding and wintering birds through four standardized ringing programs (CES: 42 active sites; RAS: 223 active projects; winter-RAS: 9 active projects; urban monitoring program: 52 active sites)
- Monitoring of migration patterns through a network of coastal and inland bird ringing stations
- Surveillance of infectious zoonotic diseases in birds (>10,000 birds sampled annually)
- Tracking individual birds’ movements through the extensive use of geolocators and GPS tracking devices.
Ringing and recovery data are gathered in a centralized database through an online application that is used by all ringers and reporters, as well as the general public. Nearly all historical ringing and recovery data has been digitized and is available for analysis. All data can be viewed in the Dutch online migration atlas.
We are grateful for the enormous effort made year after year by ringers and reporters, the authorities and land owners that facilitate their work, and the staff at NIOO-KNAW, all contributing to the collection of a unique, long-term dataset that is part of this project, and has increased our knowledge about wild birds and their conservation.
Contact the scheme: info@vogeltrekstation.nl