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East Winch, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE32 1NR

Tel: 0870 906 1420   Fax: 0870 753 9450

 
 
 
 

Post-Release Monitoring

 

Post-release monitoring is a very important aspect of our work.  We need to know how well the animals we release cope once back in the wild. 

 

We need to be able to identify an individual animal after release – most methods involve using a tag of some form, which is attached to the animal. 

 

The tag usually requires a licence, and is inscribed with a unique alphanumeric code.

 

The RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre has a long history of post-release monitoring:

 

  1. ·        1988 started to tag seals

  2. ·        1991 started to ring swans using British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) rings

  3. ·        1996 BTO ringing of oiled seabirds

  4. ·        1999 BTO ringing of all birds

Unfortunately, the amount we can learn from these methods is restricted.  The number of reports from members of the public are very low in comparison to the number of animals released, and when we do receive information it usually means the animal has died. 

 

However, significant advances in science and technology mean that radio tracking is now an option, although much more expensive and time consuming than tagging.  Radio tracking does, however, give immediate results, meaning that we can monitor each animal’s movements and behaviour on a daily basis, although it is for a comparatively short period (a tag to fit a tawny owl will last for around 3 months).  A combination of radio tracking and tagging/ringing gives a good compromise.

 

Radio tracking …

 

Radio tags are custom made to fit a range of species of similar size.  The tag must be fitted in way, and be of such a size as to have the minimum effect possible on the animal’s behaviour.  Each tag within a study emits radio waves at a different frequency to the others, enabling identification of each individual animal.  Tracking is by an aerial and receiver.

 

Radio tracking and blackbirds

 

The blackbird (Turdus merula) is one of our most common garden birds, and the species is admitted to the East Winch Wildlife Centre throughout the year.  During the spring we often have recently fledged blackbirds brought in to us. 

 

These are often found by members of the public and thought to be sick or abandoned, but are usually healthy, still being fed by the parents, and in the early stages of adapting to life outside the nest.  However, this is a vulnerable stage in their development, and a number are brought to us as a result of misadventure.

 

Over 200 blackbirds are admitted to the Centre each year and the obvious question, from a rehabilitation point of view, is how well do our young ‘hand-reared’ blackbirds integrate and survive in the wild?  We need to get this information so that we can monitor and review our methods of rehabilitation.

 

Radio tracking and roe deer

 

Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)  fawns are very difficult and labour intensive to rear, and can easily become imprinted, and  we feel it is important to know how well they survive in the wild once released. 

 

At present we are investigating two methods of tracking – a collar with a satellite transmitter attached, and an ear tag radio transmitter.  We hope to be able to track roe deer fawns in the near future.

 

If you would like to help up with our tracking work, please complete and sign  the following  form and return to us:

 

 

I would like to make a donation towards the tracking projects for the RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre - please complete in block capitals:

 

Name

 

Full Address

 

 

 

 

I enclose £

(payable to RSPCA)

 

 

Signature                                                                                           Date

 

Please complete in full and return to: 

 

RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre, Station Road, East Winch, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE32 1NR. 

 

Thank you for your support.