Slovenija Bird Ringing Centre

The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) was the first bird to be ringed in Slovenia as early as 1909. Bird ringing was initially carried out by the Ornithological Observatory in Ljubljana, which later joined the Slovenian Museum of Natural History (PMS) and now operates as the Slovenian Centre for Bird Ringing (SCOP) within the Department of Vertebrates of the PMS. Slovenia is located at the crossroads of several migration routes, so ringing of migratory birds, especially during autumn migration, has been of paramount importance in the Centre's history. A key turning point was the introduction of nylon mist-nets in 1973, which increased both the number of birds ringed and the number of recoveries. Since 1998, between 60,000 and 100,000 birds have been ringed annually in Slovenia, with 270 species ringed to date (an updated list of annual ringing totals per species can be found on our website ( https://www.pms-lj.si/si/o-naravi/zivali/vretencarji/ptici/slovenski-center-za-obrockanje-pticev ). The higher ringing intensity is also important for recording elusive and otherwise difficult-to-record species, such as  species of the genera Phylloscopus, Iduna, Acrocephalus, Luscinia, Tarsiger, and Emberiza. In addition, intensive ringing of migrating swallows was conducted at night roosts. More recently, individual ringing has been undertaken as part of targeted research projects in cooperation with various governmental and non-governmental organisations (e.g. DOPPS BirdLife Slovenia, National Institute of Biology and  Sečovlje Saline Nature Park ). These projects focus on ringing of breeding birds (especially owls, ducks, storks and tits), both adults and young, using various types of tags in addition to ringing. In 2001, the Centre began using coloured rings, and several colour ringing schemes were introduced for different species, resulting in a greater number of recoveries of Mute Swans (Cygnus olor), Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and White Storks. Future goals of the scheme are to increase ringing of breeding birds, establish a CES programme, increase the use of tags, establish standardised ringing stations to monitor and ring migratory birds and to provide valuable data for science, bird conservation, and human health.

The Slovenian Centre for Bird Ringing is financially supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia under a programme of the Slovenian Museum of Natural History. In addition, ringing activities are occasionally supported by private and institutional donors, who mainly contribute to the costs of metal rings, which so far have been supplied free of charge to ringers. There are currently 88 ringers marking birds for the Slovenian Bird Ringing Centre, divided into different categories depending on their licence. Category A ringers can independently ring birds using various methods and must pass an exam that includes knowledge of legislation and scheme rules, bird identification, and field practices. Category B ringers are also independent, but specialise in ringing specific species or species groups, primarily breeding birds, using specific methods; they take similar but adapted exams. Category C and D ringers are auxiliary ringers who assist A or B ringers, and include various volunteers and new ringers.