Wing-tagged Marsh-harriers in Belgium

This year, the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) has started a research project on Marsh harriers Circus aeroginosus in Belgium, and adjacent areas in the Netherlands. For this project, young birds are ringed and wing-tagged on the nest. Until now about 55 birds have been tagged, and the expections are that we will end at 65 - 70 birds for this first year. As I am participating in this project, some pictures can be found below. More info about the project can be found at
http://www.inbo.be/content/page.asp?pid=FAU_VO_BruineKiekendief

Each bird has one tag on each wing, with different tags on the left and right wing. The colours used are white, yellow, orange, purple, red, green and blue, and the symbols (which can be black or white) are X, -, I, /, 0, 8, a full dot and a triangle. Some tags have no symbol.

The first birds have already left their nests, and are flying around, so keep your eyes open for these birds! It will be very interesting to see if some will be recored in southern Europe this winter.

Young Marsh harrier with left wing-tag visible (white X on blue).

Young Marsh harrier with wing-tag (other bird than above) with right wing-tag visible (black / on orange).