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 and Sedge Warblers on Thatcham Marsh as part of the BTO's Acrocephalus Enquiry, (Acrocephalus Warblers include Reed and Sedge Warblers). 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 much 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 reedbed 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 group has operated the site as one of the BTO's Constant Effort Sites (CES for short) during the summer months.
Several ringers once in and/or trained by the group have or still operated independently nearby.
After the original trainers lapsed and out of concern for the future two members gained training endorsements in 2006 and group membership increased and is now 11+ with helpers.
Since 2006 the group has regenerated and expanded its operations and membership.
CURRENTLY (2009)
As well as the Thatcham CES the group has another near Kintbury. Various nest box schemes are operated with 326 boxes at the last count, several winter feeding stations, and individuals have their own projects.
Since 2006 the group has regenerated and expanded its operations and membership.
We now has three trainers
We run two teams. One based around Newbury covering the eastern and central portion of West Berkshire and around. The other teams base around Kintbury and the western portion of West Berkshire and around. Members also operate sites in Dorset, Somerset and Wales.
Since 1966 we have ringed in excess of 133,000 birds of 108 species.
This involves a few national and local rarities including:
Savi's Warbler |
Hambridge Lake, Newbury |
The first and only Berkshire record |
Great Reed Warbler |
Thatcham Marsh LNR |
Second Berkshire record |
Cetti's Warbler |
Thatcham Marsh LNR |
First Berkshire record and the 8th British record. Now a well established breeding bird in West Berkshire. |
Paddyfield Warbler |
Thatcham Marsh LNR |
First and only Berkshire record and 42nd British record (the first inland) |
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Bearded Tit |
Firecrest |
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker |
Little Egret |
Ring Ouzel |
Tree Sparrow |
Wood Warbler |
Yellow Wagtail |
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THE NATIONAL RINGING SCHEME
Bird Ringing in the UK is controlled by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) under license from the relevant Country Agency, English Nature in our case, in accordance with the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. All ringers go through a programme of training typically lasting several years before they are fully licensed.
An explanation of why and how birds are ringed is included on the Why Ring Birds? page.
© Newbury Ringing Group