I have had a look at the ringing data collected over the last two winters at Broomfield. There are a few species caught at the feeders in sufficient numbers to do some comparisons between 2023/24 winter and 2024/25 winter.
It is known that for many species last summer was a poor breeding season - the poor weather resulting in low fledging rates for many species of passerines. This can be seen in the data we have collected over the last two winters:
Blue Tit - in 2024/25 winter total captures of individuals down 50% and the ratio of juveniles to adults dropping from 2.5:1 to 1:1.
Great Tit - in 2024/25 winter total captures of individuals down 46% and the ratio of juveniles to adults dropping from 3:1 to 1:1.
Chaffinch - in 2024/25 winter total captures of individuals down 47%, however the ratio of juveniles to adults remained roughly the same.
Overall captures of individuals of all species was down by 62%.
Interestingly 36% of the first winter Blue Tits caught in 2023/24 winter had retained some old greater coverts compared to only 13% caught in winter 2024/25.
Kev
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