Ring
- each record must have a complete
ring number, not just the last two digits. The format of the ring number should
have no hyphens, blanks or other characters, i.e. the prefix and number should be
continuous. E.g. 456001 rather than 4-56001, and BC23001 rather than BC 23001.
Code - This is to distinguish recaptures and controls
from newly ringed birds. Use the following codes:
1: newly ringed bird
2: recapture or control
L: lost ring
X: recovered
All recaptures (after the date of ringing)
may be submitted. Recoveries can be included in your database in the same way as
recaptures. Note that additional details should be submitted separately to SAFRING,
i.e. details on the condition of the bird (fresh, decomposing, etc) and how the
bird died, etc.
Date The format is dd/mm/yyyy. Be careful with spreadsheets and databases where the default
setup is usually the USA order (mmddyy).
Species - continue using the SAFRING numbers (similar to
the old Roberts number). SAFRING can email a list of species names with Roberts
numbers to any ringers who would like it. Species not listed in the old Roberts
have been assigned numbers by SAFRING (see SAFRING guide to rings). If you ring
a bird where you do not know the number, phone SAFRING to get the number before
submitting the data.
Ringer- Each ring record must have your ringers number.
For those who have more than one number (for different provinces) only use your
current number (i.e. for where you are living now). Use your current number for
all ringing, no matter where the ringing occurs.
Age:
0 = Age unknown.
1 = Pullus.
2 = Juvenile.
3 = Immature.
4 = Adult
5 = 0 to 0.5 year.
6 = 0.5 to 1 year.
7 = 1 to 2 years.
8 = 2 to 3 years.
9 = Older.
Sex:
0 = Sex unknown.
1 = Male
2 = Female
3 = Possible male
4 = Possible female.
Marking:
0 = metal ring only
1 = Colour ring.
2 = Wing tag.
4 = Collar
5 = Harness
6 = Colour dyes
7 = Dyes and colour ring
8= Radio/transponder
9 = Satellite
10 = Canadian (colour ring with inscription)
Condition:
0 = good.
6 = Rehabilitated.
7 = Artificially reared.
8 = Released away from place of capture
9 = Oiled and cleaned.
Coords the coordinates must be obtained from a GPS or from
maps. Coordinates obtained from a GPS must be rounded off to the nearest minute
when submitted to SAFRING. The format should be 2345S 1828E. There must be one space
after the S. You must use the letters S and E since the gazetteer references the
field exactly as written.
Locality - use up to 25 characters here to describe the location.
Be consistent in naming localities, and in using the same name every time you ring
at the same site. The name should ideally describe the entire minute-by-minute square,
because the SAFRING gazetteer uses one name per set of coordinates.
Province - use the new province designations as listed later
(make sure you know in which province the locality falls). Note the capitals for
SA provinces and small caps for countries.
WC
|
Western Cape
|
MP
|
Mpumalanga
|
GP
|
Gauteng
|
EC
|
Eastern Cape
|
KZ
|
Kwa-Zulu
Natal
|
FS
|
Free State
|
NC
|
Northern
Cape
|
NP
|
Northern
Province
|
NW
|
Northwest
Province
|
bw
|
Botswana
|
ls
|
Lesotho
|
mw
|
Malawi
|
mz
|
Mozambique
|
na
|
Namibia
|
sz
|
Swaziland
|
zm
|
Zambia
|
zw
|
Zimbabwe
|
YrR the ringing year (eg 1999 for 1 July 1999 to 30
June 2000).
Mass mass of bird in grams, as on Schedule 1 forms. For
large birds of several kgs you still need to give the mass in grams and not in kgs.
Wing length of wing in mm, flattened wing cord.
Moult primary moult, each feather from P1 to P10 in one
string, eg. 5555543100, or 555554310 if P10 is reduced or absent.
Colour
rings add one column
if you use colour rings. Use this format: red/light green/blue, black/red/metal.
Left leg, with rings from top to bottom, comma, right leg with rings from top.