Bluethroat; Credit: © Raymond Gloden

Luxembourg nature conservation NGO natur&ëmwelt has announced that members of the public can now "sponsor" a bird and support bird ringing.

Sponsors or "godparents" will receive a certificate with a personal ring number and further information about their sponsored bird and its species.

As natur&ëmwelt explained, the scientific ringing of birds is a major element of the bird census in Luxembourg. In addition to the three main ringing stations in Übersyren, Schifflange and Remerschen, sporadic surveys of bird populations are carried out in various habitats.

Each year, around 25,000 birds are ringed in Luxembourg, using rings from the ringing centre of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), where the data of ringed birds is also transmitted.

By donating, sponsors can support the following activities of natur&ëmwelt:

  • Monitoring: bird ringing allows scientists to collect valuable information on the behaviour, migration patterns, lifespan and population dynamics of different bird species. These data are considered essential for answering questions relating to ecology, climate change and bird migration;
  • Protection of endangered species: bird ringing makes it possible to monitor endangered bird species and take protective measures to ensure their survival. Information on breeding and wintering areas as well as migration routes is deemed essential for planning and implementing protected areas and measures to protect threatened habitats;
  • Understanding ecosystems: birds are important indicators of ecosystem health. By tracking populations and individual birds, scientists can quickly detect changes in the environment. This is considered essential for identifying ecological problems and threats to biodiversity.

To acquire sponsorship, choose one of the three categories (€50 Bronze; €100 Silver; €200 Gold) available on the website: https://www.naturemwelt.lu/nouveau-parrainage-doiseaux-chez-naturemwelt-a-s-b-l/#1701878663159-82fab448-6d1d. Prospective sponsors can then choose a payment method (bank transfer or Payconiq), before sending their details by email to parrainage@naturemwelt.lu.