Dec 2011 : buzzard wing tag project
Eimear Rooney from Queen’s University, Belfast has initiated a long-term wing-tagging programme of Common buzzards this year in Northern Ireland.
The colours of the wing-tags are in co-ordination with the Buzzard Wing-Tagging Scheme across the rest of the UK and ROI. Northern Irish birds have a yellow tag on their right wing and for this year (2011) all buzzards tagged carry an orange tag on their left wing.
Eimear would appreciate it if you could report any sightings of wing-tagged buzzards to me at
buzzardsni@hotmail.co.uk or on +447743068931.
She has already had a recent report (6/12/11) of one of the tagged birds found dead at Rush, Co. Dublin. The individual had been spotted at an earlier stage, in the same area, with a second tagged juvenile, so these birds are moving considerable distances.
Reports will allow ecologists to better understand juvenile movements and survival rates, as well as life-time reproductive success and mating strategies as the years move on.