Ringing has been used as a tool to track birds for the last hundred years. It is a very good long term method as, relative to a human, the ring itself weighs no more than a mobile phone would to the bird. The British trust for Ornithology (BTO) oversees all ringing and ringing programs in the UK and holds data and links for many overseas organisations.

About 800,000 birds are ringed in the UK and Ireland per annum. The current 2000 Ringers are all trained and licensed. Ospreys are schedule one birds and so an extra license is needed. Only 1 ring in every 50 is recovered/read – so having our 2004 chick Ring no. Green 5S sighted in Norway last year was a bit of very good luck. To date we have had 15 chicks ringed from our Bassenthwaite nest.

If you happen to find a ring on a dead bird, or can read one on a live bird (you should never attempt to catch a bird to read its ring) you need to send the details of your sighting and your address to BTO, British Museum, London, SW7. Or go to www.ring.ac. Remember to wash your hands well after touching a ring or bird.

For more information on Ringing go to www.bto.org/ringing.