European Goldfinch

Details

Introduction: Goldfinch numbers are on the rise in the Netherlands. Thus also the number of ringed birds increases. In the Netherlands, more than 10,000 goldfinches have been ringed according to the Vogeltrekatlas. But once caught, goldfinches don't easily get caught again. There are only 432 retraps.

Research questions: 1) What is the annual survival rate of goldfinches in our research areas? Is this different for young birds than for adults? Are there gender differences? 2) Is there a difference in survival rates between birds from urban areas (The Hague) and rural areas (Haarzuilens)? 3) What about the dispersal of young and adult putters? Is there an exchange between urban and rural areas? 4) Do goldfinches show side fidelity to the staging areas during migration and wintering locations? And is there anything to say about the breeding location? 5) Is the use of colour rings practical for this kind of research in small passerines? What is the rate of resightings? Are there relevant numbers of reportings from different places than ringing stations? Does the biotope (urban area vs rural area) influence the percentage of resightings?

Research locations: Goldfinches are ringed at a rural location at bird ringing station De Haar near Utrecht and in a residential area in The Hague.