As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Monday 21 January 2013

If You See a Banded Bird, Report It!


Pam Monahan of Virginia Beach reported to the United States Geological Survey information that she was able to glean from this eagle's leg band as the bird flew over Honey Bee Golf Course.

Monahan saw the bird several times before she  was able to  pick out the letters “HK" on the  purple leg band.

Monahan was familiar with the youngsters banded at nests in Norfolk Botanical Garden and was sure she had found one of the garden's  juveniles.

She reported the information to the Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Laboratory that keeps track of banded birds across the United States:  http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/.

The Geological Survey responded with a certificate  of appreciation with  the information that the eagle was indeed a male banded at the 2009 eagle nest at Norfolk Botanical Garden.

This time of year is a great time to see banded birds, because not only are eagles making themselves known close up, but banded snow geese and other waterfowl also are around in the southern part of the Virginia Beach.

If you see a banded bird, use your binoculars to try to pick out the letters or numbers and don’t forget to note the band’s color.

Forward the information to the website and look forward to hearing a little bit about your bird’s background.

“It thought it was quite an interesting process,” Monahan said.

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