Catching Them Young .....

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

It's started

 

Just processed this little sweetheart. Female Great Tit. This seasons fledgeling.

 

 

She's, so far, evaded the pine martens. Got clear of the nest and is out on her own. Now she just needs to learn about the sparrow hawks.

 

Oh, and she's just had a lesson in Trap Cages and Ringers!

 

Now; It occurs to me that I have to report her as a " 3J ". That's the code we use for her particular age.

 

We suss birds ages out by a close inspection of their feathers. There are feathers on a fledgling great tits wings which will change colour tone, with age.

 

But, perhaps you too can discern the yellowness of her cheek patches, look? In a full adult, they turn white. Baby's have that lemon flush though.

 

That could be some savage craic; Bit of light hearted competition. Get some Ringers and some Aviculturists ~ perhaps Judges?

 

Present them with a bunch of birds, with their Close Rings obscured. Have a contest as to who can best figure out the ages of the birds by feather tracts.

 

My money's on my Trainer! F**ker reads birds feathers like you or I read type script!

 

[fireman 10,871]

Grand post that OP and lets hope that martin meets it's maker sooner rather than later the damage the buggers doing round your way and fingers crossed for this little one,one fella on my facebook says he can tell a birds sex just by looking at it's bill but i'm not one for calling a man a lier when i myself do't know but that's some trick if he can and he says hens have a groove where as cocks don't but i can't ever see a difference .Very interesting fact that about the feather and is this true with most types of our natives?..

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

Very interesting fact that about the feather and is this true with most types of our natives?..

 

 

Yes, mate. There's certain feathers that alter slightly in a good many birds. Lot of it can be a bit subjective though. Think about decisions like whether you're seeing Bluish Green or Greenish Blue. It can be That head wrecking!

 

My Trainer though? Seriously, the guy's been doing this all his life. He's a complete head wreck! I can ring him up, any time ye like. Just say; " Boss; I've caught X Bird here. What am I looking for??? "

 

And, in the middle of a job, or eating his dinner, without a moments hesitation, he'll just say something like;

 

" Look at the primary coverts. Are they Blue, or Slate Gray? Is there a grayness to the Alua? And has it got a sheen to it? And the tail feathers. Are they sharply pointed or are they showing any form of abrasion? And ..... "

 

And I'm just standing there. Holding this bird. Staring at my mobile and thinking: " "

 

 

And don't even get me started on his ability to find nests!!!