Bird Ringing Exercise was initiated in selected wetlands of Punjab (Ropar, Nangal and Keshopur) from 25th March to 31st March, 2014. Scientists of PSCST, Bombay Natural History Society, field staff from Wildlife Division, Rupnagar, Ferozepur and Hoshiarpur, Chandigarh Bird Club and WWF-India participated in this exercise.

The project is aimed at studying the migration, mortality, territoriality and other behaviour of the birds with the help of encrypted BNHS codes embedded in the rings. It will take off on a larger scale next winter.

The Bird Ringing Exercise and training started in Ropar wetland on 25th March, 2014. Mist nets were put in Sadabarat forest for one day. Two jungle babblers were trapped on day one which were ringed and released back to the wild. For the next two days (from 26th-27th March, 2014), bird ringing exercise was conducted in shallow waters near Nangal Wetland. During these two days, a total of five birds were trapped which included Northern Shoveler, Red Shank, Blue Throat and a pair of Yellow-cheeked Warbler. Dr. Balakrishna, Scientist from BNHS briefed about the bird ringing exercise and displayed bird ringing to the participants. On 28th March 2014, an expert team moved to Harike Wetland. A meeting was arranged for the Frontline Forest Staff, Ferozepur Wildlife Division for training them to ring birds. From 29th-31st March, 2014 bird ringing exercise was conducted in Keshopur Community Reserve. Frontline forest staff was briefed about the bird ringing. Nets and traps were setup in the selected parts of Keshopur Community Reserve. During this exercise, a total of twenty birds were trapped. The birds included Spotbill Duck, Common Teal, Purple Swamphen and Common Moorhen. All these birds were ringed and released back to the wild.