Surprise with rings of truth

BRAVE BAND OF BIRDERS READY TO DO THEIR BIT TO KEEP TABS ON FEATHERED FRIENDS

- Stuart Winter

RINGING in the New Year has a wholly different meaning for a devoted band of birders advancing the frontiers of ornithology.

Come rain, come shine, the crack of dawn starts and, worst of all, enduring the flesh-tearing antics of ferocious blue tits nothing will deter the small army of 3,000 licenced bird ringers from their mission these coming 12 months.