Have you seen the bird of the month?
For August, it is the: Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Where can I find them?
The Chaffinch used to be common in the reserve, however numbers have seen a decrease, over the years.
The best place to see or hear them is in the Kitchen Garden and at our Bird Feeding Stations (October – March).
About the species
The male is colourful with an orange-pink breast and cheeks. The female is a duller brown in colour with hints of green and yellow.
The species is on the UK green list, meaning its population is currently stable, however research from the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) has linked the UK decline to the disease Trichomonosis. Greenfinches and Chaffinches have been most frequently affected species.
To help, it is important to keep any bird feeders clean.
Chaffinches forage for food both in the trees and on the ground.
They weigh around 22g and have an average lifespan of 3 years.
What do they sound like?
An abrupt ‘pink, pink’ sound.
Where do they nest and what is the nest made from?
Nesting normally starts in April.
It is normally constructed in trees, hedges or bushes. The nest is round in shape, and delicately constructed with spiders’ webs, moss and grass. It is lined with feathers.
The chicks will normally fledge from the nest when they are around 13 days old.