Ringing birds is something I’ve never done but with my recent successes and multiple nests threatening to cause confusion I investigated the ringing process to help identify my birds.  As I only have a small number of birds I didn’t think that it was necessary to go to the expense of having closed , numbered bands so I got some split plastic rings from Ebay.  They aren’t the best rings but they are more than adequate for large finches or canaries.  Smaller sizes are available as these are actually fusible hobby beads and have long been used for ringing birds (see Hill (1992)).  To see what these beads are really used for have a look on Flick.com.  Of course if you buy them as beads you have to use a razor to split them which is easy as they are soft polythene.  Split plastic bands can be applied to any birds over the age of 10-12 days but closed banding can only be done at this time.  For more on closed banding visit the Zebra  finch society’s website.

The first thing to do when using split plastic bands is to choose one of an appropriate size and load it onto the applicator with the split side spread open across the channel as shown above.  Next  capture your bird and hold it belly up in your subordinate hand as illustrated in the photo. Using your dominant hand, place the open channel of the applicator on the birds leg and using your fingernail slide the ring off the applicator and onto the leg  as shown in the next photograph.  Now, pinch the ring to ensure closure  and be careful not to pinch the leg in the open part of the ring.  The bird is now identified using whatever system you choose.  I am using red and yellow to distinguish my two breeding cut-throat families.  My Owl finch progeny are banded with blue as you can see from the photographs.  Unfortunately 3 days after I fitted the bands a snake got into my aviary again and ate my first ever owls here.