Rara Avis Rings
Bird conservation hit by decline in public help to record the rings
The practice is dependent on the public posting rings found on dead birds, providing the date and location where the bird was found.
The drastic fall has been put down to people not spending as much time in the countryside or on remote beaches, an increasing reluctance to post letters, and simply being more squeamish than they were 50 years ago. “People are terrified of touching something that’s dead. And now bird flu has made it even worse,”
In the US a study suggested financial incentives helped to increase return rates. When a reward of $75 (£45) was promised, the return rate rose dramatically. However, this was not only expensive, but birds were shot for the rings.
Incentives matter... I suppose they don't want the pile of rings Mr FM "collected" last winter then..