Bird Band – Duck Band – Goose Band
March 24, 2009 by admin
By PJ Maguire
The author showing off one of his duck leg bands taken on duck opener in 2004.
Every year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service and agencies ran by the states, place leg bands on a variety of birds across the country. Migratory birds, like ducks, geese, and most recently doves are some of the most commonly banded birds. Harvesting a bird sporting a leg band is a special joy for waterfowl hunters.
After harvesting a banded bird, many waterfowl hunters place the band on their call lanyards. “It’s like earning a buckeye sticker and putting it on your football helmet. It’s a badge of honor.” Explained Lyle Sinner, an avid waterfowl hunter and Fargo, ND native.
Traditionally one must harvest a lot of ducks and geese before shooting a banded bird. Therefore, it is assumed that if a waterfowl hunter has a lot of bands, he or she has shot a lot of birds. But most of the guys with lanyards full of bands on television will probably tell you they hunted them near banding sites. Some inside information will definately up your odds. Some people can hunt their entire life and never shoot a bird that is banded. Other waterfowl hunters have harvested dozens of banded birds. It all depends on where you hunt and how many birds get banded in your area. However, you could potentially shoot a banded bird anytime, in any location.
The chance at taking goose leg bands in ND is quite low.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service uses data reported from leg bands to track the flight paths of migratory birds. Bands are also useful in determining harvest information and life span of specific bird species. A few years ago I witnessed my buddy take a banded drake mallard that turned out to be 12 years old. The mallard was banded in North Dakota about 50 miles from where it was shot. Some of the same ducks from the area have been reported in most U.S. states and even countries as far away as Russia.
Each band has a unique number that identifies the species of bird which is tied to the life history. When you call in a band number, an operator will ask you a few simple questions like the date and location of where the bird was harvested. You will receive a certificate in the mail containing your name and information on the banded bird.
For most waterfowlers, checking for duck bands is the first thing on their mind when picking up a bird.
Along with regular bands, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service puts ‘reward bands’ on some birds. Usually they put these leg bands on adult birds. Reward bands are typically worth any where from 25 to 100 dollars. The government sends you a check only after you report the information regarding the band. Getting paid to hunt, that would be a nice bonus for anyone.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service are not the only ones that band birds. Some hunt clubs put leg bands on birds they release. Pheasants Forever, an organization for the preservation of pheasants, sometimes bands pheasants that they release.
One of the rarer forms of waterfowl bands are Jack Miner bands. These bands, banded by the Miner family in Ontario, have unique bible verses engraved into the band. Jack Miner bands are sacred to most waterfowl hunters, and sadly to some they just have a price tag for Ebay.
Nicknames for leg bands are a common place among my friends. They are often referred to as: jewelry, bling-bling, shine, hardware or leg irons. We refer to hunters who shoot a lot of banded birds as having “the force.”
Roughly 3.1 million leg bands have been reported to date. That is pretty small considering that since 1904 about 58 million birds have been banded in North America. Both of these numbers represent hundreds of different species of birds.
Across the nation hunters shoot banded birds every year, in just about every location. They make the hunt just a little bit more memorable and leave the hunter with a little souvenir. The first thing I do when I retrieve a harvested bird is check for a band. I encourage you to do the same. Band information should be reported to 1-800-327-BAND.
robert on Wed, 18th Nov 2009 1:51 pm
I have 2 geese in AZ neck bands White C88 & C51 where did they come from? I give up! cant find a site that will tell me!
admin on Wed, 18th Nov 2009 3:45 pm
Was there not leg bands accompanying the neck collars? If so, those numbers you need to report to receive information.
1-800-327-BAND
Shack on Sat, 28th Nov 2009 10:08 am
I have a mallard that was shot this season in Michigan it has a leg band with only 3 digits…it is not worn and there are no other markings. Can anyone help me in reporting this band?
zach chittenden on Tue, 29th Dec 2009 10:56 pm
I would assume that the other numbers are worn off and its just hard to tell….if you send it to laurel md, sometimes they can etch the band and find the rest of the numbers or it could be a jack miner band with a worn off saying and a number or 2…..good luck
Mike on Sat, 20th Mar 2010 2:39 pm
Iam wondering if the leg band on the left or right determines the sex of a goose?
Ohio on Mon, 26th Apr 2010 8:10 pm
I was given another number to call 301-497-5969
Ryan on Mon, 10th May 2010 6:54 pm
I shot my first duck, Dec. 10 and it was banded. What are the odds of that? plus, in the same day i shot my first buck and got a letter from the president. for real though, someone needs to figure out the odds of your first bird ever shot at being banded.
Beth Ann Schwarz on Sun, 23rd May 2010 11:25 am
I just saw a goose with a yellow neck band with TJ66 on it. She had a mate and 10 goslings. She was in the Mt. Olivet cemetery in Salt Lake City, UT. Where is she from?