This is a long term study in Kippo wood (near Kingsbarns Fife) to find out how old chaffinches can survive to be in the wild. Birds are uniquely colour ringed in and around the wood all year and especially in early autumn when the young birds of the year are caught. They are difficult to catch twice and colour ringing shows many really quite old birds. The oldest was 13 years but we have a number 8,9 and 10 years old. We also are trying to find out if the same pairs use the same nesting territory each year. Many birds stay in the wood but colour ringed birds are regularly seen as far away as St. Andrews; we have had one seen in Dumfries at a bird table and another found in a short eared owl pellet in Northumberland. Continental birds probably winter here and these are not really different from ours so no doubt some of the birds flaunt their colour rings on foreign shores. To date we have ringed over 1000 with different colour combinations. Any sightings of colour ringed birds would be gratefully received even if you are not sure of the colours.
Please Email jamescobb@kingsbarns.fsnet.co.uk and I will forward the bird's history to you.