Red Rope members in the south-west recently linked up with biologists from Bristol Zoo and Bristol Museum to help ring local raptor chicks.
The target populations are the raven and peregrine of the Avon and Mendips area, and this was the first successful attempt at ringing the Pink Wall (Avon Gorge) peregrines.
The biologists have no safe way of getting to the cliff face nests, and this is where climbers came to their assistance. The climbers abseiled in and captured the young birds. The chicks were then weighed, measured, ringed and safely returned to the nest.
The ringing program has proved immensely valuable over the years as a way of gathering data about bird populations. The brightly coloured plastic rings contain large letters/numbers and allow individual birds to be identified and monitored during the breeding season.
The picture illustrates Rob Doman capturing the chick (by now quite large and strong) and struggling with brambles while dangling 45m up in mid-air!
Many thanks to members of the Red Rope climbing club, Rob Dorman and Colin Knowles.
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