Banding American Kestrels (Falco sparverius)
Banding American Kestrels (Falco sparverius)
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Biologists studying birds
of prey sometimes use a type of trap called a "bal-chatri." This
is a small
wire cage topped with numerous monofiliment nooses. A mouse or bird is placed in the trap as a lure. The trap is placed within the line of sight of a raptor; the usual method is to gently toss it out of a car when a hawk is located perched nearby. Just a reminder, it is illegal to trap, hunt, or possess any migratory bird, including kestrels, in the U.S. without a federal permit. |
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If the hawk strikes at the
trap, it will
(hopefully) get caught in the nooses. The lure bird is unharmed, and the hawk can be safely disengaged by a person experienced in handling birds of prey. The bird can then be examined, measured, and banded. At right, an American Kestrel being carefully detached from a bal-chatri trap. |
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This male kestrel (left) was banded 23
Nov 2001 along the
Rouge River channel in Dearborn along
Greenfield Road.
The next day the female (below) seen with
him
was banded in the same location.
(This bird was reported to us as being
found dead
in Allen Park, MI on 18 Apr 2003)
