This quick summary shows the top degree-minute grids for each major region (South African province, main African countries with data) in the SAFRING database. No checking has been done, so there are likely to be some errors. Also, some ringing localities may cover two grids, but this query is strictly totals by grid (rather than by locality). These numbers depend very much on where ringers have ringed a lot over the decades.

Table 1 shows the grid with the most number of species ringed in that grid (per region).

Table 2 shows the total number of birds ringed per grid for each region.

Barberspan is the top site for number of species and number of birds ringed. This is due to high ringing effort in the 1960s in ringing waterbirds, combined with the effort of ringing in recent years using mistnets as well as walk-in traps for waders and waterbirds. Several regions have the same site as top grid for species and totals ringed.

SAFRING celebrates its 70th anniversary this month, the first birds to be ringed were some Cape Vultures ringed in August 1948. Read a short history of bird ringing in southern Africa at the Biodiversity and Development Institute web site.