RAS: Renewing Acquaintances in Spring

For almost 20 years, the Retrapping Adults for Survival (RAS) scheme has used standardised bird ringing as a tool to monitor adult survival rates of species not frequently caught at Constant Effort Sites. The results are used to generate annual survival estimates which help us to understand more about the contribution changes in the probability of mortality make to population trends recorded by surveys such as the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). Birds are generally faithful to breeding sites between years, so RAS methodology aims to re-encounter as high a proportion of returning adults as possible each year; for some species, this task can be made significantly easier by fitting colour-marks, allowing birds to be individually identified without capture. 

The initial uptake for RAS was fantastic, with 75 datasets received in 1998. Since then, the number of projects has risen steadily and in 2015, a tremendous 190 datasets were received. We now have over 200 active projects studying 59 different species. 60% of projects focus on one of the 24 target species, as outlined in the Demographic Targeting Strategy, with a further 11% of projects targeting seabirds (which don’t yet feature in the target species list).

The most frequently studied species are still House Sparrow and Pied Flycatcher, which are the focus of 23 projects each. In third place is Sand Martin, which is studied by 15 RAS ringers, often at artificial banks such as the one at Rutland Water which enable breeding success to be monitored concurrently. Following closely behind is Starling (14 projects), a species that has become increasingly popular in recent years. Prior to 2013, there were only two RAS projects on this red-listed species so the additional data now being produced are very welcome! Not quite making double figures are Dipper and Reed Warbler, which are the species of choice for nine RAS ringers each. Perhaps surprisingly, there are still fewer RAS projects than we might expect on some generally well-ringed species, such as Swallow and Tree Sparrow (six projects each) – we would love to hear from anyone interested in taking up the challenge of a RAS on these species.

This colour-ringed Starling is part of a RAS population in Lancashire. Photo by Peter Alker.

The fruits of RAS ringers’ labours have just been published. The full suite of national RAS results for 2015 is now available and includes a trend for Tawny Owl, which we have been able to produce for the first time following the submission of some valuable historical data. RAS works particularly well for longer-lived species, such as owls and seabirds. A number of ringers with existing, long-term ringing projects have recently registered for RAS, instantly enabling us to produce survival trends for their studies.

A trend for Tawny Owl is available for the first time. Photo by Ruth Walker.

 

RAS survival trends for 12 species (Little Owl, Jackdaw, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Dipper, Pied Flycatcher, Stonechat, Wheatear, House Sparrow, Linnet and Siskin) are also included in the annually produced BirdTrends report, which provides a range of information about population trends and their potential drivers for over 100 breeding bird species.

We are very grateful to all our fabulous RAS ringers who put so much time and effort into generating this incredibly valuable data. Anybody considering starting a RAS or wondering whether a current project could be suitable for RAS is encouraged to contact the RAS organiser.