Tracking Young Hawfinch in the New Forest
- Marcus Ward
- Aug 30
- 3 min read
The Hawfinch is one of the UK’s most elusive and mysterious birds. With its powerful bill and secretive woodland habits, it’s always a special encounter in the New Forest. But despite years of study, one big question has remained unanswered: what happens to young Hawfinch once they leave the nest?
This summer, thanks to funding from the New Forest Biodiversity Forum and the support of a brilliant team of volunteers, we set out to find out.
First Juvenile Hawfinch Ever Tagged in the UK
In May and June 2025, three juvenile Hawfinch in the New Forest were fitted with tiny GPS/radio tags, each weighing just over one gram. These tags are designed to be safe for the birds and fall off naturally after a few weeks.
The technology gave us two ways to follow the birds:
Radio tracking allowed us to pick up their movements in real time using hand-held receivers.
GPS fixes (had the tags been recovered) would have provided high-resolution movement data.
Although one tag malfunctioned and none were recovered for GPS downloads, we still gathered important information through radio tracking.
What We Found
Each of the three juveniles told a slightly different story:
One male dispersed 9 km south-west to Holmsley and Brownhills — the first confirmed record of a New Forest juvenile moving so far from its natal area after fledging.
Another male remained close to the ringing site, using a communal nursery or “crèche” where young Hawfinch gather together and are often attended by adults. These sites have only recently been described in the UK and may prove important for survival.
The third juvenile was only briefly relocated after tagging, which could mean the tag failed early or that the bird dispersed out of range.
What was clear is that even after fledging, juveniles stayed in close association with adults for several weeks. That close parental link may be an important part of their development.
Why This Matters
The Hawfinch has suffered a dramatic decline in the UK, with a 76% reduction in range since the 1970s. Today, only c1000 pairs remain, and the New Forest is one of its last strongholds.
While previous work in the Forest (2019 and 2021) has tracked adult Hawfinch during the breeding season, no juveniles had ever been tagged in the UK until now. That makes this year’s trial an exciting breakthrough, filling a gap in our understanding of the species’ ecology.
Knowing how far young birds disperse, whether they remain together in nurseries, and which habitats they rely on is critical for protecting the species. It will help us identify priority areas for conservation, from protecting woodland roosts to advising on forestry operations.
Challenges in the Field
As with any pioneering project, we faced challenges. The dense New Forest terrain made radio signals tricky to triangulate, and two tags had very similar frequencies, which slowed tracking efforts. With only one receiver and a small team, it took careful coordination to keep the project running smoothly.
But thanks to the dedication of our volunteers — who spent hours in the field, often in difficult conditions — we gathered enough data to prove the feasibility of tagging juveniles and to reveal exciting new insights.
Looking Ahead
This was a small first step, but it has opened up big possibilities. Looking to the future we plan to:
Expand juvenile tagging in 2027, with more tags and volunteer trackers.
Focus surveys in the south-west of the Forest, where one juvenile dispersed this year.
Identify and monitor more crèche sites, exploring their role in the survival of young Hawfinch.
Share our findings with Forestry England and conservation partners to ensure woodland management supports this rare species.
This project wouldn’t have been possible without our incredible volunteer team, who helped with baiting, ringing, and hours of patient tracking. We’re also hugely grateful to Forestry England and the RSPB for support, and to the New Forest Biodiversity Forum for funding.
The Hawfinch remains one of Britain’s most enigmatic woodland birds — but thanks to this pioneering work, we’re one step closer to understanding its hidden world.
Baiting Team
Clare Aveling, Mike Bainbridge, David & Wendy Booth, David Brookes, Tracy Burgess, Rob Farnworth, Cher Graham, Suzanne & Patrick Kempe, Sue Kirsch, Dan Murray, Rose Proctor, Mark Rowe, Tara & Amy Squire, Di Stedman, Phil Williams, Andy Wootten
Tracking Team
Mike Bainbridge, David Brookes, Rob Farnworth, Emily-Louise Griffin, Suzanne & Patrick Kempe, Sue Kirsch, Jack Parkin, Rose Proctor, Katiana Saleiko, Tara & Amy Squire, Di Stedman, Jamie Ward, Marcus Ward
Ringing Team
Willow Bloomfield, Rob Farnworth, Elliot Frost, Emily-Louise Griffin, Dimitri Moore, Katiana Saleiko, Tommy Saunders, Sam Walker, Amy Squire, Tara Squire, Sam Walker, Felix Walker-Nix, Jamie Ward, Marcus Ward
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