I have worked in ornithology for almost a decade. This has covered research at the Natural History Museum, London, into plumage colouration and bill evolution, and bird flight and flocking behaviour at Royal Holloway, University of London.

 

I've also been a licensed bird ringer since 2016, conducting ringing on behalf of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). This involves placing small metal (and sometimes plastic) rings to birds' legs to help track their movements, monitor their survival, and study their behaviour. I've been involved in a variety of ringing projects:

• Seabird cannon-netting in Essex

• Mute Swan colour-ringing in Greater London, Surrey and the South West

• Starling whoosh-netting in Surrey

• Shag colour-ringing in Aberdeen

• Hirundine roost catching in East Sussex and Surrey

• Woodlark colour-ringing (including nestlings) in Hampshire

• Nightjar ringing in Surrey and Somerset

• Supporting efforts at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, Portland Bird Observatory, and Icklesham Rye Bay

 

Another key part of my bird surveying is nest monitoring. This has included monitoring Dartford Warblers in Somerset heathland under Schedule 1 Licence, as well as Nightingales in the Knepp Estate's Rewilding Project in West Sussex—this work was featured in David Attenborough's Wonder of Song BBC One documentary. I've also monitored the nests of Pied Flycatchers, Barn Owls, Kestrels, and general woodland species.

 

I also work in consultant ornithology, conducting Breeding Bird Surveys, Winter Bird Surveys, and Nocturnal Surveys across the South West and Wales.