My Oldest Bird Ever!

I've just received news of my oldest ringed bird to date...a Northern Gannet which I ringed on an annual ringing trip to Les Etacs, Alderney on 25 June 1983. This bird was reported found dead in Friesland, The Netherlands on 21 May 2015 - some 31 years and 11 months after ringing!

While a very impressive age for any bird, this is not the oldest Gannet on record. This record is held by a Gannet ringed in Britain which was found dead 37 years and five months later.

One can only wonder how many chicks such a successful bird as F6491 has raised in its long lifetime?!