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	Banded Birds

What to do if you find a banded bird.

Metal band on leg

A bird with a metal band on its leg was banded under a permit from the U.S. Bird Banding Laboratory. Birds are banded in order to track their movements and lifespan. It is very important to report one of these birds if you can get the numbers from the band. Without them, nothing can be reported. Information that must be recorded includes:

• band numbers and letters
• town, county, and state where the bird was found
• date found
• alive or dead? how did it die?
• finder's name, address, and phone number

This information can be called in to 1-800-327-2263or reported on the Bird Banding Lab's website www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl. It can also be sent by mail to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bird Banding Laboratory, 12100 Beech Forest Road, Laurel, MD 20708-4037. The lab keeps track of all banded birds. If you call them, they can often tell you over the phone where the bird came from and how old it may be. When they receive your report, they will notify the person who originally banded the bird, and they will send you a certificate of thanks for helping the program. The certificate will also include information about the bird.

Colored, plastic band

More commonly found in backyards are pigeons banded with a colorful, plastic band, often beginning with the letters AU. This is a racing pigeon, most likely one that is lost from its race and is tired, hungry, and thirsty. Give it protection from predators (perhaps a plastic laundry basket over it) and offer it water and some food such as unpopped popcorn, rice, barley, split peas, buckwheat (kasha), or canary seed. After the bird has rested a day or two and has had water and food, it will probably take off and continue home. You may have to shoo it once or twice to encourage it to leave.

Racing season is April through November. Sometimes the pigeon's owner can be traced if you have the band number. Try the National Pigeon Association's (NPA) website at www.npausa.com; it has details on identifying owners. If the bird hangs around for more than 48 hours and refuses to leave, and the owner cannot be located, you may keep the bird or find it a suitable home. For more information about taking care of the pigeons (for both short and long periods of time) visit the American Racing Pigeon Union's website: www.pigeon.org/carelostbird.htm.

Neck band

If the bird has a neck band (usually Canada Geese), it is part of a regional study to track migratory and non-migratory patterns of Canada Geese. Report the same information as detailed above on metal bands to NH Fish and Game, Wildlife Division, 2 Haven Drive, Concord, NH 03301; tel. 603-271-2461.