Abstract
Bird ‘ringing’ (i.e. marking wild birds using unique, permanent leg rings) has played an integral role in the study of avian movement, migration, survival and population dynamics for over 100 years. Increasingly, ornithologists employ technological solutions to track birds (radio-transmitters, light-loggers, GPS transmitters), which have complemented, rather than replaced, ringing studies. Using a range of varied case studies, focussed mostly on the Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola, I will explain how these two important methods have shaped our understanding of avian ecology, with particular emphasis on the implications for species monitoring and conservation.