SAFRING results

Sociable Weaver Philetairus socius

1. Numbers ringed with SAFRING rings, 1948-2002

• Total ringed: 5935
• First ringed: 1950
• Trapping method: Mistnets, nestlings

Number of Sociable Weaver ringed per year with SAFRING rings

Note that a total of 16 (average 4 per year) were ringed in the period 1970-73; the individual year totals are not known.

2. Computerised records, 1975-2002

Note: electronic records sent by ringers were extracted; no attempt was made to computerise other records.

• Number of records:5986
• Ring sizes used: 5 with 643 prefix, 187 with 2.3 mm, 34 with 2.8 mm, 5253 with 3 mm, 153 with 3.3 mm rings
• Recommended ring size: 3 mm Stainless steel
• Top ringers: 40 ringers; top 5 ringers: Mr MD Anderson (1496), Dr R Covas (1473), Mr T Osborne (652), Dr GPJ Grobler (402), Prof TR Birkhead (395)
• Bird age distribution:Unknown (48), Nestling (1054), Juvenile (58), Immature (125), Adult (3788), 0-6 months (534), 6-12 months (76)
• Bird sex distribution: Unknown (5384), Male (111), Female (91), Possibly male (25), Possibly female (21)
• Markings: Metal only (2302), Colour rings (3497)
• Condition: Good (5789), Kept for expt before release (10)
• Birds ringed per region:

  Locality	n
  Free State, South Africa	3430
  Northern Cape, South Africa	1280
  Namibia	1226

Map of localities where Sociable Weaver have been ringed, 1975-2002

3. Biometrics and moult for Sociable Weaver

Mass data (g)

Age	n	Min	Mean	Max
Adult	3370	10.0	27.7	39

Wing length (mm)

Age	n	Min	Mean	Max
Adult	2831	53	73.3	81

Moult data

Primary moult from March to September.

4. Recovery history (SAFRING's database)

• Number of recoveries: 1 recoveries and 4236 recaptures
• Greatest distance: 5 km (AE15974)
• Greatest elapsed time: 8y 1m 25d (BC34244)
• Causes of mortality of ringed birds:
  • Reasons for death unknown (1)

5. Ringing references

Oschadleus HD & Underhill LG. 2000. Analysis of ringing records at Witsand. Safring News 29:50-53.

6. Research

FitzPatrick research at Benfontein farm.