Small birds break breeding record

Small birds have had a fantastic year for breeding, according to results from a ringing programme by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

Volunteers and staff at the Slimbridge Wetland Centre in Gloucestershire catch and ring perching birds throughout spring and summer. The latest results showed a record number of “new for year” birds, recording 556 birds – 208 adults and 348 juveniles – and beating the previous record of 529 birds in 1992.

The broad measure of “over winter survival” of 72 birds ringed in previous years was also three short of the BTO’S highest ever, which was 75 in 1995.

The numbers of adult birds caught showed populations to be above average and the numbers of juvenile birds this year should give a boost to next year’s breeding population.

The standout species was the chiffchaff with 90 recorded juveniles.