Bird Ringing Camps and Expeditions
with Guillem Chacon
Each month we hold a bird ringing camp in a different country. The goal is to assist local ornithologists in establishing bird stations, with the support of national parks and biosphere reserves, universities and leading organizations, and, of course, in collaboration with the relevant national government. On our expeditions, we equip the new bird stations with all the necessary equipment and materials and provide scholarships for their managers, including training camps (in addition to accommodation, meals, and transportation) led by professors, trainers, and bird ringing evaluators from various countries in Europe and the Americas.
Chaque mois, nous organisons un camp de baguage d’oiseaux dans un pays différent. L’objectif est d’aider les ornithologues locaux à créer des stations ornithologiques, avec le soutien des parcs nationaux et des réserves de biosphère, des universités et des principales organisations, et bien sûr en collaboration avec les autorités nationales compétentes. Lors de nos expéditions, nous équipons les nouvelles stations de tout le matériel nécessaire et finançons leurs responsables par des bourses, notamment pour des stages de formation (incluant l’hébergement, les repas et le transport) animés par des professeurs, des formateurs et des évaluateurs de baguage d’oiseaux venus de différents pays d’Europe et des Amériques.
Cada mes tenemos un campamento de anillamiento en un país diferente. El objetivo es ayudar en la creación de estaciones ornitológicas a los ornitólogos del país, con el apoyo de parques nacionales y reservas de la biosfera, las universidades y entidades de referencia y, por supuesto, de la mano de la administración nacional correspondiente.
En nuestras expediciones dotamos a las nuevas estaciones ornitológicas de todos los equipos y materiales necesarios y becamos a sus responsables con campamentos de formación (además del alojamiento, comidas y traslados) encabezados por profesores, entrenadores y evaluadores de anillamiento de diferentes países de Europa y América.
Tots els mesos tenim un campament d’anellatge a un país diferent. L’objectiu és ajudar a crear estacions ornitològiques pels ornitòlegs del país, amb el suport de parcs nacionals i reserves de la biosfera, les universitats i entitats de referència i, per descomptat, de la mà de l’administració nacional corresponent.
A les nostres expedicions dotem les noves estacions de tots els equips i materials necessaris i bequem els seus responsables amb campaments de formació (a més de l’allotjament, menjars i trasllats) encapçalats per professors, entrenadors i avaluadors d’anellatge de diferents països d’Europa i Amèrica.
Another great opportunity to learn and practice with the best, refresh your knowledge, or assess your accuracy is to participate in a Bird Ringer Calibration. The next ones will be held in Benin, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia.
Participer à un étalonnage de bagueurs d’oiseaux est une autre excellente occasion d’apprendre et de pratiquer avec les meilleurs, de rafraîchir vos connaissances ou d’évaluer votre précision. Les prochains auront lieu au Bénin, au Sénégal, en Côte d’Ivoire, au Burkina Faso et en Éthiopie.
Otra gran oportunidad de aprender y practicar con los mejores o de refrescar tus conocimientos o evaluar tu precisión es participar en una Calibración entre Anilladores de Aves. Las próximas serán en Benin, Senegal, Costa de Ivori, Burkina Faso y Etiopia.
Una altra gran oportunitat d’aprendre i practicar amb els millors, de refrescar els teus coneixements o avaluar-ne la precisió és participar en un Calibratge entre Anelladors d’Aus. Les properes seran a Benin, Senegal, Costa d’Ivori, Burkina Faso i Etiòpia.
Upcoming expeditions
La ruta del 2026/2027
The route of 2026/2027
Le tour de 2026/2027
February 1-11
Bénin
Réserve de Biosphère de la Basse Vallée de l'Ouémé
If you want information about upcoming ringing expeditions to Brazil, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Madagascar or other tropical countries, please write to me!: guillem@birdring.net
Manu (Cusco, Peru), with all its gradients and ecosystems, is the place in the world with the greatest bird diversity (around 1,049 species). We’ll be ringing from July to November. Come anytime!
Sénégal
December 2025
January, February, March, August, September, October and December 2026
Senegal Bird Observatory
Senegal has 674 bird species, but most importantly, it is the first large green and riverine area in the Sahel after the vast Sahara Desert. It is an essential, fundamental enclave for the migration of European birds and for the wintering of many species. Among them, the most endangered passerine in Europe, the Aquatic warbler.
Perú
From July 1st to November 30th, come whenever you want!
Manu Bird Observatory
What can you say about a place where we captured 90 species in two mornings? Manu is the enclave in the world with the greatest diversity of birds and we need your help to learn more and discover more. We will be here for a month.
Brasil
November 14-23, 2026
Paraná
A fascinating and highly significant event. We are going to create a ringing station, accompanied by great international experts. Come and be part of this historic moment.
Bénin
February 1-11, 2026
First Bird Ringing Station
It is estimated that there are more than 600 species of birds in Benin. There is a real lack of information and we are dealing with a very important country in terms of African tropical residents and European winterers. However, no ringing has ever taken place in this country and it is our duty to open this door of history for the study and conservation of the birds of Benin and tropical Africa.
Cameroun
2026
Djerem National Park
With 954 species, Cameroon is a spectacular country for wintering European birds, but also with a great diversity of resident species. The aim of this expedition is to create the first Ornithology Laboratory in the country.
Specific campaigns
Ringing of Pelican colonies in the Senegal Delta
The breeding colony of Pelecanus onocrotalus in the Senegal Delta is probably the largest in Africa, with an estimated 4,000 pairs.
Colonies in Europe and the Mediterranean have been ringed and marked with remotely readable rings (cr-Rings) numerous times over the last few decades, especially in the Danube Delta and Israel, but also in Greece.
However, breeding pelicans in Africa had never been marked until December 2025. In the Senegal Delta, in the heart of the Sahel, the resident population could receive some influxes of European and Mediterranean individuals. However, a north-to-south movement towards tropical Africa seems more plausible. In any case, the routes and possible destinations of individuals born in Senegal are unknown. For this reason, a work plan was established with the Senegalese National Parks Directorate and the management of Diawling National Park (Mauritania)—since Djoudj (Senegal) and Diawling are located on opposite banks of the same delta—to ring birds in the Senegal Delta using cr-Rings in the first phase, followed by satellite transmitters, as well as various studies with biogeochemical and other markers. We would like to express our gratitude for the invaluable support received from the teams at Djoudj and Langue de Barbarie National Parks, as well as for the advice and guidance of the experts and coordinators from Romania, Israel, Greece, and Tour du Valat (France).
The ringing team consists of highly experienced ringers from Romania, Belgium, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain, in addition to experts from Senegal and Mauritania, under the coordination of Guillem Chacon, head of the Senegal Delta Ornithological Station and an expert in ringing colonies and large birds.
If you’d like to be part of the team of experts or volunteers write to us now! (very limited places) guillem@birdring.net
Sarcoramphus papa
Anhima cornuta
The largest and most unknown vulture in the Amazon. Known as the Jungle Condor, the King Vulture is our target for ringing, C-ring tagging, and satellite transmitters.
If you’d like to participate in the ringing of the largest and most unknown bird in the Amazon rainforest, join us for the program dedicated to the Horned Screamer. Ringing, marking with a CR-ring, and satellite transmitter.
News
(exact dates to be confirmed):
Côte d'Ivoire
Second ringing camp in the country's
As of 2026 (see video), we will be holding the second ringing camp in the country’s history. This time, in addition to the resident species, we will have the European wintering species.
Last January I had the opportunity to give a workshop on bird ringing for several days at the Master of Ornithology at the Gaston-Berger University in Saint Louis (Senegal). I was accompanied by European and African ringers and students from eight African countries. The location was also a privilege: the Langue de Barbarie National Park.
All those who want to support scientific ringing in Africa are welcome!
Parc National des Oiseaux (Delta du Senegal)
