We operate during the winter for Brent Geese mostly in January and February. Herons and Egrets are between March and May and Red Kite are ringed in July in the nest and throughout the year spring trapping adults.
If you are a licensed ringer would like to join the Southern Colour Marking Group and help with this work, please contact us. Membership is currently free due to funding being received for these projects although occasionally a charge may be levied for sessions to cover rings, powder, fuses and equipment maintenance when required or requests for membership fees are put out.
The safety of the birds is paramount and this is impacted by the time taken to process a cannon net catch or ring chicks from the nest.
Since we cannot always predict the size of a cannon net catch, we limit the number of inexperienced ringers on any one visit. However we will do our best to accommodate you. Please let us know what dates you are available and what experience you have of cannon netting, handling large birds, wildfowl or pulli and fitting large rings (sizes F, G and J).
We work on various sites, including Nature Reserves so you will be required to adhere to local Health and Safety procedures. Safety equipment may be essential and although we can provide some we may ask you to bring your own if you have them. We are likely to be out in the open for several hours, and the catch sites are exposed, so warm clothing is necessary. It is highly recommended that you are immunised against Tetanus.