Waxwings (1 Viewer)

Has ringing proved that the wintering waxwings which frequently irrupt in the UK
get back to the continent?
Also as it appears that migration this far south and west doesn't appear to be an annual phenomenon, presumably it is not built into these birds nature, so why don't they stay?

I think that their arrival here is dependent on food supply back home - plenty of food means no need to risk a sea crossing, little food - the risk becomes worthwhile.

In the summer they feed more on insects - perhaps we don't have sufficient food to make staying a realistic prospect.

I gather there's one or two ringing recoveries of UK-ringed birds, though to get any at all is good going, as where Waxwings breed is pretty much uninhabited, so no-one will find the rings.

In the summer they feed more on insects - perhaps we don't have sufficient food to make staying a realistic prospect.

Click to expand...

Very true - if you've ever been in a subarctic spruce forest in summer, you'll know what it means!

Michael

Waxie movements.

Has ringing proved that the wintering waxwings which frequently irrupt in the UK
get back to the continent?
Also as it appears that migration this far south and west doesn't appear to be an annual phenomenon, presumably it is not built into these birds nature, so why don't they stay?

Hi Tony, the most concentrated ringing scheme in the U.K. relating to Waxwings has been done in the North East of Scotland, basically in Aberdeen and the surrounding satelite towns. This has been carried out mainly by Raymond and Judy Duncan of the Grampian Ringing Group. The project was started in 1988, and the main intention was to try and understang the dispersal pattrens within the U.K. Between 1988 and 1993, circa 450 waxies were colour rung. There was a Southwardly trend of movement from the Aberdeen area, down the East coast of Scotland and as far as Bedfordshire. Outwith the U.K. there was an April record from Denmark and a May record from Netherlands in 1991. There was a further Danish record in April 1992. In Nov' 1993, there was a bird seen in Aberdeen (Leadside Road), which had been rung nearby in Nov' 1990. In 1996, the group rung in excess of 250 Waxies. One of these birds rung on the 16 March was relocated on the 29 May 1996 at Vasterbotten in Sweden. Another bird which was rung in January, in Aberdeen, reappeared in late November in Aberdeen. Another Aberdeen rung bird was killed by a car in Dundee city centre. As far as I can remember, they have now colour rung in excess of 1000 birds.
Irruprtion years have been 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996 but most of the North East Scotland bird reports show Waxwings in varying numbers.

As Michael and Rob stated, in the summer they are insectivorous, and we do not have enough flies and mosquitoes here during that time.

Regards

Malky @ Westhill