Herring gull ?

I'm pretty certain this is a Herring Gull but why has it been ringed on both legs and what is the significance of ringing him?

They are on the Red List (in decline), so they would want to track some to keep an eye on both their numbers and their locations/ habits. By people reporting any sightings they get a good picture of the birds' activities.

You can report it via the British Trust for Ornithology:

BTO Bird Ringing

Nice capture Joe.
It also seem that there os a ringing programme in Holland If this is any help

Colour-Ring Project Moerdijk

We see very few Herring Gulls down here - in comparison to BHGs anyway!

Yet Herring Gulls were the commonest ones in Ayr when we left there three years ago. I remember being surprised by the 'numbers in decline' announcement. Would that be partly due to the scarcity of appropriate food in some areas, or are the BHGs taking over in many places because of their ability to adapt?

(I've never seen a Herring Gull which has been ringed, Joe. Well spotted! :thumbsup:)

We have quite a lot of herring gulls here but then we are on the coast. I'll look out for any ringed gulls

I felt the same as you when I first saw that they were on the red list, Catherine - I'd never thought of them as short of numbers, also I've not seen one ringed... so you're one up on all of us Joe :) It looks like this colour of ring is run by someone in the Midlands (they are marked as contact on the European ringing site, Euring), but if you go to the BTO they would inform whichever project it was whether UK or not.

Thanks to all of you for the information. I will go to the website when I can. This was at Burnham on Sea.
Joe

Bird has been reported. If I get any response I'll post it here.
Joe

Cool - always nice to hear how things get on.

Here is the response I recieved.
The Severn Estuary Gull Group
Recapture History
Blue EZT
Ring Age/ Capture
number Type Date Init Details
Herring Gull
GR06056 N 11 Ringed 30/01/10 SGD Stoke Orchard landfill site, Gloucestershire. 51.56N 02.16W
S 11 Sighted 10/05/10 JD Brean Beach, Somerset (95 km, SW, 100 days)

Joe

Fantastic. I just googled them an apparently they have been in existence since 1988, initially keeping an eye on Gulls on Landfill, but have now 'spread their wings' so to speak :)