According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, bird migration and population dynamics are being studied through ringing studies in Turkey, which lies on important migratory routes.
The process of attaching the ring to the bird's legs after capturing the birds and recording their information such as species, age and sex to identify the birds and take morphometric and other measurements when necessary is called “ringing”. Ringing studies occupy an important place in ornithological research.
Regular ringing work began in 2002
While no regular and comprehensive ringing activities were carried out in Turkey until 2002, the “National Ringing Program (UHP)” was started with the cooperation protocol signed between the DKMP General Directorate, the Biology Department of the METU and the Bird Research Association.
Within the framework of the program, ringing activities in the Samsun-Kızılırmak Delta began after studying at the METU campus and continue to this day within the framework of Ondokuz-Mayıs University. The scope of the program was expanded with new channels and genre studies. International feedback has been reported to the European Bird Ringing Association (EURING) since 2005.
Currently, regular ringing activities are carried out in the country during the spring and autumn bird migration periods at Cernek and Eymir Bird Ringing Stations, Aras Bird Research and Training Center, Boğazkent Applied Environmental Education and Bird Ringing Station.
While the stations operate under protocols with the DKMP General Directorate and universities, ringing activities also take place outside these points.
Bald ibises are ringed by specially licensed veterinarians
The work carried out prevented the extinction of the northern bald ibis in the country. The northern bald ibises brought to the station before the migration period were only released during the breeding season.
The ringing of northern ibises is carried out by the facility's veterinarians who have a “special ringer” license. After the breeding season, the northern bald ibises are placed in cages and the adult northern bald ibises are examined.
In this context, a total of 57 newborn young animals were ringed in the 2023 breeding season. Biometric measurements were taken and recorded from these puppies, and samples were also collected for sex and genetic studies.
On the other hand, flamingo ringing activities were carried out in the Izmir-Gediz Delta last year in cooperation with the DKMP General Directorate, Ankara and Aegean Universities and the International Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In this context, as part of the investigations carried out in August 2023, both metal and PVC rings were attached to 262 baby flamingos and feather and parasite samples were taken.
The ringing of the cranes continues
An action plan for endangered species in the country was drawn up and implemented by the General Directorate. In this context, the implementation plan for the first period (2014-2019) of the “National Crane Action Plan” drawn up in 2013 was finalized. The second implementation period, which covers the years 2020-2024, continues. Accordingly, ringing and tracking with satellite transmitters are carried out to identify the cranes' breeding, feeding and wintering areas.
Based on the scientific data obtained, work began to determine important habitat areas for cranes during breeding, summer, wintering and migration. As part of these investigations, a total of 152 cranes were ringed, 27 of which were ringed in 2023. In addition, recording of the cranes began, whose feedback was given.
As a result of all ringing activities coordinated by the DKMP General Directorate in Turkey last year, 23,000,794 birds from 190 species were ringed. 22 thousand 756 of the relevant ringing operations were carried out at ringing stations.
The 10 bird species ringed most frequently at the stations were listed as black-headed warbler, robin, reed warbler, willow warbler, little reed warbler, gray warbler, reed warbler, redstart, white-throated reed warbler and blue-necked reed warbler.
“Animal protection activities are one of our most important areas of activity”
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı, whose views were included in the statement, stated that Turkey, which lies on important migratory routes for birds, has rich wildlife and said: “Our work to protect and develop wildlife “is one of our most important areas of activity,” he said.
Emphasizing that the DKMP General Directorate attached to the ministry is continuously carrying out the necessary work to protect this wealth, Yumaklı said:
“In addition to the ringing studies carried out as part of the monitoring activities at the ringing stations, birds found in the wild for reasons such as illness or injury are also ringed when they are returned to the wild after the completion of the treatment and rehabilitation processes . Thank you very much.” The ringing studies protect bird species, which represent an important part of the animal world, and the data obtained provide information about scientific research.
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