Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

Fiskehejre

Fiskehejre

Short abstract from the book:
The grey heron is a common breeding bird all over Denmark. The population increased in the twentieth century, especially over the last 20 years. Of a total of 28,455 ringed grey herons we have 3,231 recoveries, 1,318 from abroad. Many young grey herons leave the colonies in June–August. In this period young birds spread out all over Denmark and neighbouring countries, mainly Germany, Sweden and Norway. Herons from Jutland are more often found north of the ringing site than birds from eastern Denmark. The main autumn migration takes place in September. Some birds migrate fast to southern Europe, where two birds in their first year were recovered in Spain (15 August) and Portugal (27 August). During autumn and winter, birds are reported from most of western and southern Europe and northwest Africa. Some birds have crossed considerable distances of sea, to the Canaries and Cape Verde. Although many birds move S for the winter, a third are recovered in Denmark during winter. Most winter recoveries are from Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. Birds from Jutland have a more northerly winter mean position than those from eastern Denmark. Since 1970 birds tend to winter further north than previously. The first birds return to the colonies in February–March. Migrants from Sweden and Norway visit Denmark from late July to April. Swedish birds are found all over Denmark, and Norwegian birds mainly in Jutland. The grey heron was protected by law in Denmark in 1980, but about 2,000 birds are still shot around fishponds on dispensation. In all, 41 % of birds reported as dead were shot, and 3 % died after collisions with overhead wires.

Read more about the species in the chapter from The Danish Bird Migration Atlas here

Ringing data for Grey Heron

 
Datavisning: genmeldinger    genmeldinger/mærkninger    mærkninger
Sæson: alle    vinter    forår    sommer    efterår
Periode: alle    før 2003    2003 og frem    seneste 365 dage


Data

Birds ringed
Birds ringed 5.886
Ringed as chicks 0 (0,0%)
Recoveries
No. of recoveries 3317
No. of individuals 0
Proportion recovered 0,0%