The demonstration that Philip is referring to was an event called “Spring Fling”, joint open days held by the CSIRO Black Mountain site and the ANBG. I am not sure if the ANBG was under the control of the (now) Federal Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts at the time but the banding displays were part of this open day weekend. I was doing the banding, sometimes but not always, with and under the direction of the then Co-ordinator and Secretary of the ABBBS. He is quite right, we did catch and band a Lewin’s Honeyeater in the ANBG on one occasion. These displays were very popular with the general public, and especially children.
I should have mentioned in my original reply to John Layton that besides the two main groups mentioned as local banders, there are several other completely independent banders locally who operate their own sites, in or close to Canberra. Whether these banders are willing to put on a “public display”, with the approval of the current Senior Project Officer ABBBS, is up to them.
Finally, I’m sorry Philip but you just don’t meet my criteria for a “page 3 girl”.
Mark
PS – as mentioned in my original email, there is the possibility of a weekend banding open to all in October near West Wyalong if the COG outings organiser wants me to do so. Obviously it is not as far as Iron Range and the Cape. I have had people ask me in the recent past if I was going to do another banding weekend.
From: Philip Veerman [
Sent: Sunday, 9 January 2011 11:46 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Ring or band?
A very complete answer from Mark. Pity that Cape York is a long way to go for a demonstration. Sadly such travels are unlikely for many of us, as appealing as it might be. I do believe though that there has been the occasional ACT demonstration bird banding event - although I can't recall for sure if that was the initial intention. In particular, I mention (though it was a long time ago), the only time I have featured as "the page 3 girl" in The Canberra Times. My photo at the ANBG, holding a Yellow-faced Honeyeater was published on 11/10/1992. The accompanying article was about early stages of my and COG's thoughts about the GBS. I recall the demonstration as part of some special ANBG event and I believe I recall (but could be wrong) that Mark was there that day leading the bird banding. I also recall he also caught a Lewin's Honeyeater that day........
I think I agree with John in implied suggestion that such a demonstration locally would perhaps be nice. Easy for me to say so, but I wouldn't be doing it.
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Clayton [
Sent: Sunday, 9 January 2011 7:31 PM
To: 'John Layton'
Cc: 'canberrabirds'; 'David Drynan'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Ring or band?
John,
There is no difference, it is just that different countries call it by different names. In the northern hemisphere it is “ringing” while most of the southern hemisphere call it “banding”. In Australia it is banding, and the size of the bird to which the band (or other forms of identification for that matter) is attached makes no difference to what it is called. Banding in Australia is controlled by Australian Bird and Bat Banding Schemes, a division of the Federal Government’s Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts here in Canberra.
Locally there are effectively two groups of banders. One is centred on the ANU through the Botany/Zoology department (BoZo) – although I may have this name incorrect – and much of their work has been done in the Australian National Botanic Gardens on Superb Fairy-wrens and White-browed Scrubwrens using students, often doing PhD’s, as the “workers”. There are several other projects also being undertaken by academics from the ANU.
The second group is a dedicated group of chiefly amateurs who have banding sites near West Wyalong, Grenfell, Braidwood and Wee Jasper. This latter group is primarily the one that trains banders locally, including in many cases banders from the ANU. Normally we do not do public displays but once every few years we invite the local bird club, COG, to campout at a site near West Wyalong to see what goes on. I have not discussed with COG’s outings officer the possibility of doing a trip this year but would consider a trip on the October long weekend provided it does not clash with anything already organised by COG. If you are a member of COG and receive the Gang-gang newsletter you may have noticed in the (?) December issue that I have advised COG members of a banding trip to Cape York in November. It is up to people to get themselves up there but the banding team will happily show people banding in operation.
I hope this answers your query; if not please get back to me.
Cheers,
Mark,
Regional Organiser, ACT,
Australian Bird and Bat Banding Schemes
From: John Layton [ Sent: Sunday, 9 January 2011 6:17 PM To: Canberra Birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] Ring or band?
We’ve been reading ‘Songbird Journeys – Four Seasons in the Lives of Migratory Birds’ by Miyoko Chu and it’s reinvigorated discussions about bird migration and tracking. Anyhow, the question arose, and will not go away viz: what’s the difference between bird ringing and bird banding? I proposed the expressions mean the same thing. But this is not accepted in the realms of Bratdom – where it’s held that big birds like pelicans are ringed whereas smaller birds are banded. Also, Chu (bless her) mentions that there are some places in North America where John & Mary Public can watch banding. Or is it ringing? – so help me – can we see any demonstrations locally? Anyone?
John Layton
Holt.
