A bird-ringing group has celebrated its 70th anniversary.

Merseyside Bird-Ringing Group (MRG) marked the occasion with a special lunch.

The group was formed by two people, Rob Cockbain and Graham Thomason, who are still active members.

The group was originally named to reflect where the founders lived but now covers a large area including North Wales, Cheshire, and the Wirral.

MRG places small, numbered metal rings on wild birds to give each one an individual identity.

This helps the group learn more about the birds’ lives, including where they migrate to.

MRG’s ringed birds have been found as far away as Canada, Russia, and South Africa.

All members of the group are trained volunteers.

The group is part of the national ringing scheme, contributing to conservation and education.

MRG aims to continue ringing birds, having already ringed nearly 900,000 in 70 years.