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Records and recoveries
The chances of catching a bird again are very slim; with small birds such as warblers, only about one in a thousand is ever recovered – dead or alive.
But as the number of recoveries gradually increases, scientists can begin to notice patterns of behaviour. For many years, ringers in South Africa have recorded swallows ringed in the UK, while ringers in the UK have recorded swallows ringed in South Africa. This is how we know that swallows travel to South Africa and back – and that they can live for up to 16 years.
The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) organises ringing in the UK. They store all the information they receive on an enormous computer database. If you find a dead bird with a ring, you should record the number carefully and send it to the BTO using the address below. Or you can complete an online reporting form using the link on this page.
Last modified: 11 January 2005