Causes of Ring-Related Leg Injuries in Birds – Evidence and Recommendations from Four Field Studies

Abstract

One of the main techniques for recognizing individuals in avian field research is marking birds with plastic and metal leg rings. However, in some species individuals may react negatively to rings, causing leg injuries and, in extreme cases, the loss of a foot or limb. Here, we report problems that arise from ringing and illustrate solutions based on field data from Brown Thornbills (Acanthiza pusilla) (2 populations), Siberian Jays (Perisoreus infaustus) and Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens (Malurus coronatus). We encountered three problems caused by plastic rings: inflammations triggered by material accumulating under the ring (Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens), contact inflammations as a consequence of plastic rings touching the foot or tibio-tarsal joint (Brown Thornbills), and toes or the foot getting trapped in partly unwrapped flat-band colour rings (Siberian Jays). Metal rings caused two problems: the edges of aluminium rings bent inwards if mounted on top of each other (Brown Thornbills), and too small a ring size led to inflammation (Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens). We overcame these problems by changing the ringing technique (using different ring types or larger rings), or using different adhesive. Additionally, we developed and tested a novel, simple technique of gluing plastic rings onto metal rings in Brown Thornbills. A review of studies reporting ring injuries (N = 23) showed that small birds (<55 g body weight) are more prone to leg infections while larger birds (>35 g) tend to get rings stuck over their feet. We give methodological advice on how these problems can be avoided, and suggest a ringing hazard index to compare the impact of ringing in terms of injury on different bird species. Finally, to facilitate improvements in ringing techniques, we encourage online deposition of information regarding ringing injuries of birds at a website hosted by the European Union for Bird Ringing (EURING).

Reproductive trade‐offs in a long‐lived bird species: condition‐dependent reproductive allocation maintains female survival and offspring quality

“…From 1989 to 2004 and from 2011 onwards, we caught females in March and attached a radio‐tag (Holohil BD‐2D, Telenax TBX‐006), to aid with locating the nests. Nests were visited repeatedly to count the number of eggs, nestlings and fledglings, and ring all fledglings (Griesser et al ., , Griesser et al . ).…”

Experience buffers extrinsic mortality in a group‐living bird species

“…Here we use data collected from spring 1996 to autumn 2004, and from spring 2011 to autumn 2013, including survival data on 371 individuals from 75 territories. All birds in the study population were individually colour‐ringed (Griesser et al ), with the exception of five individuals. Blood (50 μl) was taken from all individuals for molecular sex (Griffiths et al ) and kinship (Griesser et al ) determination.…”

Immediate effects of capture on nest visits of breeding blue tits, Cyanistes caeruleus, are substantial

“…First, many studies have examined longterm fitness consequences of CHMS, i.e. changes in (1) reproduction (breeding cycle, territory residency, nest desertion, brood size, fledging success, reproductive success), (2) survival (mortality, recruitment, return, recapture and resighting rates), (3) condition (deterioration, injuries, body mass changes, energetic expenditure) or (4) behaviour (impairment of flight, swimming, migration, foraging, display, dominance, mating, communication, recognition) (Calvo & Furness, 1992;Duarte, 2013;Fair, Paul, & Jones, 2010;Griesser et al, 2012;Murray & Fuller, 2000;Owen, 2011;Spotswood et al, 2012). These studies typically aim to understand whether and to what extent specific CHMS procedures (trapping, marking, tagging, sampling) may permanently affect individuals, impact negatively on the study population or bias measurements relevant to the study.…”