4.5 Notes on bird handling
The adaptations of birds for flight, including pneumatized (hollow) bones, and fea-
tures of plumage, mean that birds are light in weight and must be handled with care.
Two methods for holding small (small enough to be held in one hand) birds have
become standard. In the head forward grip, the bird is “caged” by the fingers and
the bird’s head protrudes between the folded index- and fore-fingers (Figure 4.3).
This method is standard in North America and the United Kingdom, where it is
known as the “ringer’s grip” (Pyle et al. 1987; Redfern and Clark 2001). In this
position the bird is restrained from biting the handler, and the ring, tarsus, and wing
can be manipulated as required by the index finger and thumb, leaving the other
hand free to handle pliers and other instruments. The bird should be held in the left
hand by a right-handed observer and vice versa. In the second method, which is
favored in parts of continental Europe, birds are held in a reverse grip in which
restraint is exercised by the little-finger and ring-finger, while the index finger and
thumb can manipulate the tarsus for ringing (Svensson 1994, p.21).
What feels most natural varies between people, but if several measurements
are to be taken, less manipulation is required if the ringer’s grip is adopted. In
either position, it is important that minimal pressure is applied, so that the bird
is restrained comfortably without restricting respiration at either the trachea or
Notes on bird handling| 99Fig. 4.3This Rose-ringed Parakeet is being held in
the standard (head-up) ringer’s grip in which its body
is supported by the thumb, ring, and little fingers, and
the head restrained by the index and middle fingers.
This individual also has a large number “4” painted on
the breast with hair dye. This mark lasted for several
weeks during which it was not recaptured, but was
identifiable within the flock. (Photo: Chris Butler)