Learning to ring

This is the section of my blog where I will write about some of the bird ringing activities I regularly participate in.
I have now been training for about 2 years with Geoff Mawson, who is secretary of Sorby Breck Ringing Group. Most of the ringing I do is using mist nets, which are typically made of polyester and are a safe and generally harmless way to catch birds for ringing purposes. I have also had the opportunity to ring birds in the nest and whoosh-netting Twite.
The ultimate aim of ringing is to study birds on passage or to monitor populations, particularly in the breeding season. The metal rings we use are fitted with specialist pliers and uniquely numbered so if the bird gets caught by another ringer elsewhere, it can be traced back to where it was originally caught.