What is required

Good bird-watching experience and expertise is necessary before anyone considers becoming a ringer as correct identification is vital.

For those wishing to join as trainees a few visits as a helper are needed so that both the potential trainee and the trainer(s) can assess the trainee`s suitability. A considerable commitment of time and effort is involved in training which will extend over a period of more than a year. A trainee will be allocated a specific trainer, but can ring at Chew if an A ringer is present and prepared to oversee his/her operations. It is a complete waste of time for both trainee and trainer if the trainee only turns up infrequently. A trainer is likely to be present at almost any Sunday from spring through to autumn - and at most other times of the year. Telephone numbers of active trainers will be available so that likely ringing sessions can be ascertained.

Operations do not start with ringing. Before this nets have to be erected and in summer this will take place early in the morning or even the previous evening. It is obviously not reasonable to turn up after all the preliminary work has been done and expect to start ringing birds, nor to leave all the clearing up after the days operations to others. This is all part and parcel of the trapping process. Maintenance of the hut and equipment, and management of the net sites are all necessary. This takes place throughout the year with several days being set aside for specific tasks.