Andrew Pickles was very excited recently when, during
one of his regular bird ringing sessions at the Umzumbe roost, he captured a
Barn Swallow which had already been ringed.
He could immediately see from the ring engraving that it had originated in
the United Kingdom and has just received official confirmation from the British
Trust for Ornithology that a Mike Haigh ringed this Barn Swallow as a 6 day old
chick in horse stables at Llanfechain, in Powys, Wales in the United Kingdom on
24 June 2015.
Mike Haigh was also thrilled, calling it the Holy
Grail for bird ringers to have one of their swallows turn up in South Africa, something
they always dreamed of. Next year he
will be particularly vigilant to see if the bird returns and he will keep
Andrew informed.
Just to imagine
- this tiny bundle of feathers followed its innate instincts to fly all the way to our neck of the woods. We know this happens but to have our own
proof gives me, for one, goose-bumps!
Congratulations and well done Andrew on all the effort you put into this project.
Photographs property of photographer
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