Web site hosted by Greenham Common Trust

© Newbury Ringing Group

Web design by janlegg

HISTORY

Newbury Ringing Group formed in the autumn of 1966 after two local ringers and their trainee's had completed their first season ringing Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) on Thatcham Marsh as part of the British trust for Ornithology (BTO) Acrocephalus Enquiry, The group continues with various levels of activity to the present day. Originally 4 members in 1967 rising to 19 by 1977 then numbers dropped to 5 for most of the 1980's and 90's and back to 4 for the first few years of the current century.

In 1980 due to falling numbers it was decided to concentrate ringing to the area of reed bed north of the railway on Thatcham Marsh, now part of West Berkshire Councils Local Nature Reserve. This provided a more consistent and standardised ringing effort. Since 1993 the site has operated as a BTO Constant Effort Sites (CES) during the summer months.

Several ringers trained by the group have left to operated independently some nearby.

When the original trainer’s license lapsed and out of concern for the future two members gained training endorsements in 2006 and group membership increased.

Since 2006 the group has regenerated and expanded its operations and membership.

CURRENT STATUS (2011)

We have 19 members: two trainers, five A permits, six C permits and six trainees.

We run as two teams. One based around Newbury with ringing sites in the eastern and central portion of West Berkshire. The other team is base around Kintbury and the western portion of West Berkshire. Both teams have ringing sites in bordering Oxfordshire and North Hampshire. Members also operate their own sites in Dorset, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset and Wales.

Key projects: Two CES sites at Thatcham Marsh and near Kintbury. various nest box schemes with 400+ boxes at the last count and several winter feeding stations, also individuals have their own projects.

About Newbury Ringing Group