How to close ring a Java sparrow in 4 easy steps.
Here I hope to help you in close ringing all the Java chicks that come your way. I will use a small story board below with clear photo's to illustrate the not to difficult process. Once you have got used to handling the small babies and can control them in your hand it is not that bad a thing to do.
Step 1
The chick you want to close ring should be between 7 to 10 days old.
I start to look at the babies from the age of 7 days.
This is because some chicks grow faster than others. This is dependent
on a few things like the size of the parents, the number of young birds
in the nest.
First get the baby Java in a position you are comfortable with thinking
of which leg you are going to ring, the left or right. Holding the Java
chick very gently get the 3 longest toes into a group together, as illustrated
in the photo below.
Step 2
Next get the ring to put onto the Java not forgetting to check
the number etc. for your records. Slip the ring over the 3 longest toes
you have previously grouped together in your finger and thumb. Ensure
that you do not get just 2 toes in and bend 1 back when slipping the
ring up to the "thumb" toe on the baby Java.
Step 3
Next still holding the Java chick gently, slide the ring over
the "thumb" toe of the Java. Do this slowly being careful
that the "thumb" claw is tucked into the ring as you slide
it up the birds leg, see photo below.
Step 4
You will now have to slide the ring up the Java's leg as far
as you can to release the "thumb" toe from the ring. It is
a little scary the first time you do this but you can even gently pull
the "thumb" claw from the front through the ring but the close
ring must be as high on the leg of the Java at all times. The photo
below shows the ring successfully in place on a 2004 bred Normal Java.
Checks
To check the ring you have just successfully put on your Java is going
to stay on just gently slide the ring back over the the whole foot of
the bird, as if you were going to take it right off. This time there
will be 4 toes going into the ring and if there is a little feeling
of contact on the ring around the birds ankle then slide the ring back
up the leg and leave it. If it comes off easily over all 4 toes then
the birds leg is too small and you will have to do the same the following
day. It may take 3 attempts to get the ring on and to stay on.
Notes
If you check the babies to be rung from 7 days of age then you
are reducing the potential for having to struggle when putting a ring
on. As a guide I look at the birds when they have got the quills starting
to sprout from their wings, about 3 millimeters in length is the time
where I start to monitor the birds for ringing.
If you do miss a day and the bird is a little older and consequently
a little bigger then you can use a little of your spittle on your fingers
and rub it around the birds leg and this will aid the ring and toes
to slide more easily. A little smearing of Vaseline is also good to
use.
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