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.

The simple act of fixing uniquely numbered alloy rings to birds' legs has revolutionised our understanding of the avian world.