Since mining stopped these areas have filled with water during each rainy season and created one of the best birding sites along the coast of The Gambia. Bird ringing began at Kartong in 1996 with the pioneering work of Mike King and John High. To carry this work forward a team of ringers from the U.K. has now established a permanent ringing station at Kartong. In the last year we have ringed over
2800 birds of 120 species. Many of these species have been caught in large numbers allowing us to develop new ageing and sexing criteria for an avifauna that is understudied. We have caught many migrants from the Palearctic and hope to increase our knowledge of their migration patterns through this part of West Africa. We run regular ringing courses for bird ringers from the U.K. and hope to develop these to involve ringers from other countries. Each ringing course sponsors a number of Gambian students to gain valuable work experience learning the skills of bird ringing. Specific studies presently include leg flagging Spur-winged Plover allowing us to identify individuals in the field. This enables us to not only follow individuals dispersal from the site but also the breeding biology of the pairs that nest here. Hooded Vultures are also being ringed with special rings which allow us to identify individuals as they move around the area. Vultures are suffering a population decline in many parts of the world and as they play an important role in the environment data collected now will help our population monitoring. The Osprey is one of the most spectacular birds at Kartong. Many spend the winter in our recording area and we actively follow birds to identify individuals from their colour rings. We work closely with the Osprey Study Group and pass all our information on to them in the UK. Over 375 species of bird have been recorded at Kartong. The wetlands form the centre of our recording area. Other adjacent habitats include, sand dunes, foreshore, tidal mud flats, Savannah scrub, rice fields cultivations and a remnant of high forest. The wetlands here hold water throughout the year, although much diminished after April this fresh water is a magnet for water birds and migrants. The extensive reed and rush beds provide roost refuge and breeding sites for some species which are otherwise difficult to see in the Gambia. Many of the species here are very approachable and allow wonderful photographic opportunities. Birds recorded here recently include African Crake, Dwarf Bitten, Little Bitten, Black-crowned Crane, Painted Snipe, Allen’s Gallinule, Pygmy Goose, African Reed Warbler, Brown Noddy, Golden-tailed Woodpecker and Cassin’s Honeybird. Palaearctic migrants include European Roller, Wryneck, Woodchat Shrike, Great Reed Warbler, Temmink’s Stint Lesser Kestrel and Marsh Sandpiper. Perhaps the most spectacular event of the day is the heron roost. Each evening between 900 and 1600 herons of 8 species come to the reeds to sleep and feed. Between November and February.
