The Forum Has Moved!

This thread is for posting scaps and photos of the Band on the Female eagle nesting at the Harrison Mills nest.

Added 6/2/13 - so far we have six numbers: 629 - 308; there is quite a bit of blank space before the 629, and the fastener is after the 308. ~JudyB

Added 6/7/13 - it looks as if we now have eight numbers: 629 - 30899, though the last one is a little hard to read; not sure if there might be another one. ~JudyB


As Federal bands issued in the USA and Canada have 8 or 9 numbers with a legend indicating WRITE BIRD BAND LAUREL MD 20708 or AVISE BIRD BAND WASH DC., it is most likely the band on our Lady is marked with Washington, DC and not the state of Washington and she could be from the US or Canada. See the second paragraph in red type below.



All information below is from the Bird Banding Laboratory

of the U.S. Department of the Interior, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Contents: About Bird Bands ~ Identifying Unusual Bands ~ Etching Worn Bands



About Bird Bands

There are several different types of bands used on wild birds in North America. Each type of band is made in many different sizes so that every bird has a suitable size band available for use by banders.



Bands provided by the Bird Banding Laboratory are made of aluminum and inscribed CALL 1-800-327 BAND and WRITE BIRD BAND LAUREL MD 20708 USA followed by a unique 8 or 9 digit number. The older bird bands had the legend AVISE BIRD BAND WASH DC. These bands are from the same agency as the new bands and can be reported on the 1-800 telephone number or to Laurel MD.

There are 23 standard size bands and 5 specially sized bands made to accommodate the smallest hummingbird to the large Trumpeter Swan. In addition there are 4 common types of bands which include the standard butt-end band, the lock-on bands used on hawks and owls, rivet bands used on eagles, and hard metal bands for use on birds that would otherwise outlive their bands or are in harsh environments like salt water that may wear the regular bands too quickly.

Bands do wear out eventually, but even a very worn band with the numbers seemingly invisible can have the numbers determined using etching. To learn more about etching bands, see below. Hundreds of bands are etched and returned to hunters by the Bird Banding Laboratory every year.

Butt-end Bands

The most common type of band used in North America is the butt-end band (photo above, front row and 2nd and 4th bands, back row). This band is a round band with two edges that butt evenly together when closed correctly. Butt-end bands are supplied by the Bird Banding Laboratory to licensed US banders free of charge. Bands made of a harder metal, typically stainless steel, monel or incoloy, are used on birds that live for many years or live in salt water environments. Some sizes of hard metal bands are available to banders now, but most must be purchased at the banders expense.

Lock-on and Rivet Bands

Lock-on and Rivet bands are specifically designed to stop birds with strong bills like hawks and owls from opening or damaging the band with their strong bill.

The lock-on band (photo above,back row 3rd band) is used on all medium to large birds of prey other than eagles. The band is like a normal butt-end band with two flanges of metal. The longer flange is folded over the shorter flange, effectively "locking" the band in place. The band is made of relatively soft aluminum and can be removed by the bander, but not by the bird.

Rivet bands (photo above,back row 1st band) are made of harder metal than the lock-on band (but not stainless steel) and are used on eagles. The band has two short flanges of metal that project out from the seam where the two ends of the band meet. These flanges are side by side when the band is closed with a hole for a rivet. The band is riveted in place.

Other bands are sometimes seen on birds. Some of these can be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory, but most cannot. To learn more about other types of bands, read on.

Identifying Unusual Bands

Most of the bands found on birds other than federal metal bands and auxiliary markers (includes goose neck bands and colored leg bands) should not be reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory. The exception are bands from foreign banding schemes. Federal and other bands are listed here with a general indication of where they can be reported.

Federal Bands

Federal bands issued in the USA and Canada have 8 or 9 numbers with a legend indicating WRITE BIRD BAND LAUREL MD 20708 or AVISE BIRD BAND WASH DC. Avise loosely means advise in several languages. Some bands used in recent years may have the 1-800-327-BAND legend as well, especially larger bands. These bands are always metal but may be aluminum or harder metal. Color bands are used as auxiliary markers by some banders with the permission of the respective banding office.


To read the rest of the article go HERE

First evidence of the possibility of a band was posted by JudyB.

Feb 19, 2013 2:06 pm




Enlarged view

Following are scaps/photos of a number sightings than have been posted since.


Posted by Irish Eyes:

March 21, 2:59 pm


Enlarged:

Posted by Irish Eyes

March 31, 5:16 pm


and

Posted by mjb

March 31, 5:18 pm

Posted by JudyB

April 1, 6:29 pm





A different angle:

Later the same day April 1, the following sightings:

Posted by JudyB

7:41 pm




Posted by eaglenut
7:41 pm


Posted by mjb
7:41 pm

May 18 - about 7:50 am
Thanks, zoomer!

Scaps taken this morning. Great closing in on the band Zoomer!