Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.

Blue band on Eagle

Discussion

5 replies
Posted by Jim Hackley on November 29, 2012 at 11:23 PM
Blue band on Eagle
We spent Thanksgiving in Prescott, AZ visiting my uncle and on one of our hikes in the Granite Dells area we came across a Bald Eagle. I was able to get some close up pictures and on one of the images I can make out the blue band ID of '20 P'. I do not know anything about the Eagle banding process or if this could be useful. My question is when you can read a band number like this should this be reported to someone?

Posted by Jim Hackley on November 29, 2012 at 11:23 PM
First view of Eagle
Posted by Bill Maile on November 30, 2012 at 6:35 AM
Hi Jim, I was searching for my photo, but I guess it's too early in the a.m. here to find it! I am in PA, and followed the first breeding pair of eagles in my home county here for the past year and a half. In one of my shots still using a 300mm, there were two distinct bands on the male's legs--one blue, one silver. No markings could be identified. I was in contact with the PA Game Commission at the time. They told me they couldn't make out where the bands were from (possibly NY), but that it could be from several states, universities, Audubon society, etc. etc. With your great ID letter and numbers, I'd bet you can find out and certainly think it would be a good idea to report it! Hope that helps for whatever it's worth. :smile:
Posted by Dan Roberts on November 30, 2012 at 8:15 AM
Several years ago I saw some geese with identifiable bands. Searched the internet and found out where they came from. Amazing how much info you can come up with via Google.
Posted by Dan Roberts on November 30, 2012 at 8:20 AM
Here's a link to cooperative US/CA govt. band reporting site.

http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/bblretrv/
Posted by Jim Hackley on November 30, 2012 at 10:10 AM
Thanks for the link Dan, I have filed a report through the USGS website.