Training to ring

Training to ring

Becoming a bird ringer requires obtaining a training permit, and then training under the supervision of a licensed bird ringer.

Training to ring

You’ll no doubt find that ringing is a very satisfying activity. Not only will you be adding to over 100 years of data used directly by conservationists, but enjoying the experience of seeing birds close up. Whether you want to train to ring birds in nest boxes, to ring your garden birds, or to ring everything at your local gravel pit, your contribution is vital.

Finding a trainer

If you want to train to ring, you will need to find a ringing trainer who will be able to assess whether you can obtain a T permit. 

What and where to ring

Bird ringers come in many guises, from individuals working in urban areas, to large groups working in a wide geographic area, with ages ranging from under 10 to over 80. So depending on where you are, you could get involved with ringing seabirds on Scottish islands, owl chicks in nest boxes or catching a huge variety of passage migrants on the coast. Most of your ringing though is likely to involve catching tits early in the morning in winter or (even earlier in the morning) warblers in the breeding season.

When to ring

Most ringers catch birds when they’re at their most active, which is often early in the morning, so sessions starting at, or before, 5am are commonplace - and ringing sites are rarely accessible by public transport. A good morning’s ringing may take you through to lunchtime, but there’s always the possibility of catching birds coming to roost or even catching at night. 

Preparation

The ringing process involves much more than you might imagine: preparation and planning to catch and ring birds are essential. Habitat management at ringing sites, maintenance of equipment and stocking winter feeding stations are all essential jobs. Most trainers and groups share chores with everyone getting involved. There is a lot to do and it will take up a lot of time.

Trainee ringing permits

There are four classes of ringing permits in the UK. All ringers start out as a Trainee and hold a T-permit. Once enough experience has been gained in one or more modules, ringers progress to a C-permit and then an A-permit. Should they wish to, an A-permit can become a Trainer (S-permit), either immediately or after a period of time.

BTO issues ringing permits on behalf of the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCBs; Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, NatureScot, and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland). This role is delegated to the Trust via an Organisational Licence received from each SNCB.

BTO also issues ringing permits for ringers in the Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man; however ringers in these areas also require an additional permit issued directly by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland) or the Manx Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture respectively. See Section 1.1 for further details.

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