Information and events
This page contains general information on activities and events that the Group is involved in. It is particularly aimed at our ringing members and helpers, but will also be of interest for other visitors to Rye Meads.
Ringers’ pages are here (access by invitation only).
Public events
Please note that due to the Avian Influenza outbreak and in accordance with RSPB policy, all ringing demonstrations have been cancelled until further notice.
Wetland Bird Survey
This survey, usually known simply as WeBS, aims to make co-ordinated national counts of all wetland birds in order to monitor populations, both wintering and breeding. We count the birds of Rye Meads, including the sewage works site. The 2024 count dates are as follows:
14th January
11th February
10th March
7th April
12th May
9th June
21st July
18th August
22nd September
20th October
17th November
15th December
(These are SUNDAYS – note actual count date may be the SATURDAY of that weekend at the discretion of the counter. RMRG customarily suspends WeBS counts during April-August to focus on breeding survey work.)
Constant Effort Sites
The CES Scheme requires timed ringing sessions at specific date periods using the same net sites through the summer, so as to provide at a national level statistically significant catch numbers to monitor population trends and breeding productivity. The 2024 visit dates are as follows.
Visit 1 Sunday 28 April to Wednesday 08 May
Visit 2 Thursday 09 May to Saturday 18 May
Visit 3 Sunday 19 May to Wednesday 29 May
Visit 4 Thursday 09 June to Saturday 08 June
Visit 5 Sunday 20 June to Wednesday 19 June
Visit 6 Thursday 20 June to Saturday 29 June
Visit 7 Sunday 30 June to Wednesday 10 July
Visit 8 Thursday 11 July to Saturday 20 July
Visit 9 Sunday 21 July to Wednesday 31 July
Visit 10 Thursday 01 August to Saturday 10 August
Visit 11 Sunday 11 August to Wednesday 21 August
Visit 12 Thursday 22 August to Saturday 31 August