Stuart Britton kindly invited me along to a ringing session ('to see for myself what goes on') at a location near Market Rasen this morning (Fri), which he administered along with a colleague.
It was the first ringing I had witnessed since the days at my 'local patch' of Dungeness (1970s - 1990s ).Techniques have certainly changed and improved since those distant days (despite my former belief to the contrary) and I was impressed by the professionalism shown in all aspects of the procedures.
Stuart had arrived at the site at circa 0600, his colleague a little later and I turned up at 0645. Apart from a little drizzle at one stage, the weather remained good with no wind. By the time I arrived, the mistnets had already been unfurled and, indeed, the very first birds were about to be 'controlled' in the hand. In all, over the next three hours or so, 38 birds were netted, ringed/biometric measurements taken and all details noted down for prompt official notification. 11 different species were recorded :
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Bullfinch
Chaffinch
Robin
Wren
Goldcrest
Blackbird
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
.......and I've already received a copy of the official report form from Stuart. We were operating at a site previously classified as a Constant Effort Site, (1988 - 1997, but discontinued as such because of habitat change) although in all Stuart has now been ringing there regularly for 30 years, thus providing an ongoing series of comparative data over that long period.
I found it all a valuable educational experience and the whole procedure was clearly in professional hands. I was particularly aware of the speed with which the birds were controlled in the hand with all the required biometric data usually being obtained in no more than a minute.
After talking to Stuart and his colleague, discussing certain facets of ringing, asking a few awkward questions and watching them at work, a number of reservations which had been at the front and at the back of my mind were certainly modified, but by no means totally removed in some cases.
I look forward to attending a further ringing session in due course, to having further discussions and to asking a few more awkward questions.
Freddy
PS......Ringers are certainly fit, early risers. Just to attend, I was up at 0445, so as to get to Market Rasen by 0645...and then plus a lot of walking to and fro in order to frequently check the well spaced-out mistnets, all of which had to be erected initially and then eventually taken down.......and to think I've got to be "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed" for an Italian lesson I'm giving tonight 8 -9pm.....I can't stop yawning and it's only 4 o'clock.
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