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The Swiss Ornithological Institute (Schweizerische Vogelwarte Sempach in German) is an ornithological research centre, which is based at the town of Sempach in the district of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. Founded in 1924, it is a non-profit organization and the largest private field research institute in Switzerland. It carries out a bird ringing program as well as other ornithological research, conservation biology, and public education.
Bird ringing
The Institute manages the Swiss Ringing Scheme under contract for the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape, and issues bird rings inscribed “Sempach Helvetia” for use in Switzerland only. Special projects managed by the Scheme include the Alpine ringing station “Col de Bretolet” at 1923 m asl on the Swiss-French border, and the Integrated Population Monitoring Program for the common kestrel and barn owl, which studies population changes and dispersal movements.