Ringing of migratory birds. A ring reveals the long journeys of migrants - The headband is inserted into the paws of the birds with an identification code The operation was carried out in recent days in the oasis Valle Re di Campegine.
CAMPEGINE (RE) - It is called “ringing”. And it consists precisely in inserting a small ring in the paw of the birds. A system in place all over the world, capable of providing valuable information: who they are, how they are, how much they move and how long the animals with wings that populate our skies live.
In recent days, the operation was carried out in a small portion of territory torn off the motorway - it runs right next to it - and in intensive agriculture to protect a precious and now extremely rare hydrogeological phenomenon: that of resurgences. We are in the Regional Nature Reserve of the Fontanili di Valle Re, in Campegine.
Here there are mirrors of water and natural channels, which appear among the vegetation. A place that, as you can easily imagine, becomes an excellent call for many migrating birds, but also for many other resident animals. On the occasion of the inauguration of the visitor center, in the oasis there was also Marilena Perbellini, a Venetian provincial guard with the "license" to ring.
The system is simple: some nets are installed vertically, where the birds in flight get entangled. Then, they are gently recovered and each one is “visited”: measured and weighed. And, of course, the ring is installed with the codes that record all their data. "They experience a bit of stress, but the procedure doesn't last long and they are immediately released," confirms Perbellini.
In this period, the assessment is even more important, as the birds coming from northern Europe to Africa are passing by to overwinter. Among the ringed birds: robin, long-tailed tit, he small, blackbird. Some "recaptured" from previous ringings, a few years ago. And still happily present in the oasis.
30.10.2013
Gazzetta di Reggio