Only about 1% of banded songbirds are every encountered after
their initial banding (one of the reasons that the data recorded during
banding is so important). Therefore, if you find a banded bird, reporting
the information makes a very valuable contribution.
Please note: If the bird is
a pigeon, it is NOT banded by a bander licensed under the Bird Banding Lab. We
do not have information on banded pigeons. These are privately banded, and there is no centralized
database of pigeon bands. However, it may be a racing pigeon. Please
go to this page at the American Racing Pigeon
Union for instructions on how to read the band and locate the club where the owner of the bird might
be found.
Federal Fish & Wildlife bands are plain aluminum, inscribed with
a nine digit number: a 3 or 4 digit prefix, followed by a dash, and 5 additional
digits. Carefully write down the number (save the band if you can) and
information on when and where you found the bird, in what condition, etc.
It's not necessary for you to identify the species, you'll be told when
you report the number.
First, if you
live in southeastern Michigan, try calling RRBO at (313) 583-6373.
Chances are good that it was one of our birds if you found it in the area.
We can get back to you quickly with information on what species you've
found, and the date, age, and sex when banded. We'll also report your finding
to the Bird Banding Lab (see below).
You can call the
Bird
Banding Lab of the U.S. Geological Survey's Patuxent Wildlife Research
Center at 1-800-327-BAND. Once the BBL is notified, you will get
a certificate when and where your bird was banded, the species, and the
age and sex when banded. The bander will be notified when and where the
bird was found.
You can also report
the band to the Bird Banding Lab by e-mail at bandreports@patuxent.nbs.gov
You can also fill
out the Bird Banding Lab's electronic
band report form on the Internet. You can also report
a bird with only an auxillary marker (such as a neck collar on a Canada
Goose) even if it does not have a metal band, or you were not able to read
the band. For more information on collared Canada Geese, including
keys to the colors most likely to be found in this region, see Ohio's
color-tagged waterfowl page.
