BTO - Ringing & Migration Conference 2001

The conference in January 2001 was very well attended. If you weren't able to come to Swanwick, here are a few pictures of just some of the activities you missed. We hope that as many, if not more, ringers will support the next BTO conference in the new unified format this December.

The annual meeting of ringers is an opportunity for direct communication between the volunteers on whom the scheme depends, members of the Ringing Committee and BTO staff. This year the panel could report some very positive developments, such as the reduction in recovery processing time to less than ten days and the fantastic progress on computerisation. Many ringers were keen to computerise and submit their old C ring data for analysis as part of the new Blackbird Initiative and the DETR-funded Starling project. There was a vigorous exchange of views about the new conference format. On the panel: (l-r) Jacquie Clark, Head of the Ringing Unit, Chris Redfern, Chair, Ringing Committee, Jeremy Greenwood, Director of the BTO, Chris du Feu, Chair, Ringing Software Technical Panel. Ian Hartley, editor of Ringing and Migration encouraged ringers to publish their data and reminded us that advice on analysis is available if required.

	This year's programme of talks was particularly impressive and well-received, with 'standing room only' at most of the sessions. Stephen Piper from South Africa managed to combine not one but two fascinating long term projects with numerous 'Oh! Ah!' bird slides and an impressive 'commercial' for ringing in Africa, into a talk that was highly entertaining as well as informative. Stephen even provided each delegate with a hand-out, giving contact details of active ringers in Africa, all keen to welcome BTO ringers to their sites.
			A long-term ringing and movement study of Cape Griffon Vultures is one of SAFRING's many interesting projects.

	The enormous progress we have all made in computerising the scheme has caught the imagination of many ringers. There was always a crush in the ringing software demonstration room. Many thanks to Dave Coker, Mark Cubitt, Chris and Richard du Feu and the other volunteer demonstrators.
The practical workshops are always popular. Jenny Butterworth (left) demonstrated the 'Nottingham Lace' approach to mending mist nets. Chris Reynolds draped nets over OHPs in his workshop to show ringers another approach to this tricky but money-saving skill.
	More than 100 ringers attended Mark Cubitt's IPMR workshops in the main hall.
Chris and Alice Redfern enjoy a challenge at the Ageing and Sexing workshop. The winning team in Graham Austin's new Friday night ageing and sexing quiz was Adrian Blackburn, Garry Barker and Steve Moores (who fought back well after Robin Ward's runaway success in the waders round!)
	The very reasonable price of the conference includes all meals.
Caption Competition: What is Dave Budworth saying to Dawn at the RAS meeting?
	The excitement of the Ringing and Migration Conference is always too much for some of us!
Thank you to everyone who came to Swanwick and to all those who helped with organisation, the speakers (especially Stephen Piper for coming all the way from South Africa and Graham Austin for stepping in at the last moment), the workshop presenters, the staff of the Hayes Conference Centre, to Mary Waller and Ruth Croger for the raffle and to everyone who contributed their knowledge or opinions to a discussion during the conference. A special big thank you to Joe and Ann Hardman and members of the Arden Ringing Group.