Why are Hawfinches important?

The Hawfinch has declined significantly across much of Britain over recent decades, with many former breeding sites now supporting only small populations or disappearing altogether. While the New Forest remains one of the species' national strongholds, many aspects of its ecology remain poorly understood.

Questions such as how long birds survive, how faithful they are to breeding sites, how productive they are each year and how they use the wider landscape are all important in understanding how best to conserve the species.

Long-term monitoring allows these questions to be answered and helps identify changes that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Our Research

Our work combines several complementary studies to build a detailed picture of Hawfinch ecology throughout the year.

Ringing Adults for Survival (RAS)

The core of the project is the British Trust for Ornithology's Ringing Adults for Survival (RAS) scheme. By capturing and individually ringing adult birds, we can identify returning individuals year after year and estimate survival rates, breeding site fidelity and annual productivity.

Unlike many studies, the real value of the RAS lies in its consistency. Small changes become meaningful when monitored over many years.

Roost Monitoring

Hawfinches gather at communal roosts. Monitoring these sites allows us to estimate local population size and understand seasonal changes in distribution.

Each new roost discovered adds another piece to the puzzle of how Hawfinches use the Forest throughout the year.

Hawfinch exiting roost

Map of known Hawfinch roosts

Radio Tracking

Selected birds have been fitted with lightweight radio transmitters to improve our understanding of how Hawfinches use the New Forest landscape.

Tracking has revealed important feeding areas, movement patterns and previously unknown roosting sites, helping us better understand the species' habitat requirements.

Juvenile Hawfinch with GPS tag

Hawfinch GPS track

Nest & Nursery Monitoring

During the breeding season we monitor nesting and communal nursery activity and productivity, recording breeding success while ensuring disturbance is kept to an absolute minimum.

These observations provide valuable information on breeding timing, nesting success and annual variation in productivity.

Habitat & Food Resource Research

Alongside ringing and monitoring, we investigate the habitats and food resources that Hawfinches depend upon throughout the year. By recording feeding behaviour, mapping important woodland features and monitoring seasonal changes in food availability, we are building a better understanding of the habitat requirements of this elusive species.

Particular attention is being given to the importance of native holly, which appears to provide a vital winter food resource, as well as other key tree species used for feeding, nesting and roosting. This information helps identify the woodland characteristics that are most important for supporting healthy Hawfinch populations.

Key Findings

Although the project continues to evolve, several important discoveries have already emerged:

Long-term monitoring has identified strong breeding site fidelity, with many birds returning to the same breeding areas in successive years.
Radio tracking has revealed previously unknown movements between breeding territories, feeding areas and communal winter roosts.
Continued surveys have identified additional communal roosts within the New Forest, significantly expanding our understanding of the local population.
Our research is helping identify the habitats and food resources that are most important to Hawfinches throughout the year. In particular, native holly appears to play a crucial role as a winter food source, highlighting the importance of maintaining diverse woodland structure.
Recent breeding seasons have produced some of the highest productivity recorded since monitoring began, providing encouraging signs for the local population.
Thousands of hours of field observations have contributed to one of the most detailed long-term studies of Hawfinches within the New Forest.