Preparing the CES

CES stands for Constant Effort Site, where a standard programme of ringing is carried out through the breeding season from May to August to monitor adult bird survival rates and productivity of nestlings. Last year we missed a lot of birds as the scrub was to tall, so this morning we have been 'gardening' to reduce the height of the willow, birch and hawthorn scrub, to create more habitat for insects and better conditions for catching.