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CCB Bulletin to Birders:
Request for assistance in locating marked birds
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Strings of alpha-numeric peregrine falcon color identification bands. Each peregrine banded in Virginia gets a bi-color band with a unique code. |
Over the past several years, the Center for Conservation Biology has initiated several long-term studies of various species using field-readable markers. Unlike conventional metal bands that require a bird to be recaptured in order to be identified, these markers may be read in the field with binoculars or spotting scopes. For these species, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, American oystercatchers, black vultures, CCB requests all individuals encountering marked birds to report the following:
1. Species and condition of bird
2. Location and position of marker
(leg or wing, left or right, above or below joint)
3. Color of marker
4. Code on marker
5. Date of observation
6. Location of observation
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Purple alpha-numberic band on the left leg (top) and aluminum USFWS band on the right leg (bottom) of a bald eagle chick banded in Maryland in 2008 |
In 2007, CCB began using alpha-numeric bands in addition to USGS metal bands on both nestlings and free-flying bald eagles in Virginia and Maryland. The bands are purple with engraved numbers/letters. The code is repeated 3 times around the band. Several other states are also actively banding eagles with other band colors and codes, so it is important to observe the band color. If you observe a bald eagle with an alpha-numeric band please report the observation to
Libby Mojica
757-221-1680
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Peregrines banded recently in Virginia wear a black-over-green resight band on their left leg (bottom) and a green metallic USFWS band on their right leg (top). |
For more than 20 years, peregrine falcons hatched in Virginia have been marked with field-readable bands. Over the years, there has been 3 generations of bands that differ in color and coding. Most states in the eastern United States are also using field-readable bands with the same color scheme, but each individual bird has its own unique code. It is important to note the band color or colors and the actual code. If you observe a peregrine falcon with an alpha-numeric band please report the observation to
Libby Mojica
757-221-1680
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Banded American oystercatcher chick, Virginia's barrier islands |
Since 2004, hatchling American oystercatchers have been marked with field-readable bands on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Birds have been double banded with identical, coded bands on both legs above the joint. The code is repeated 3 times around the band. We are using black bands with white codes. Several states along the Atlantic coast are also banding oystercatchers, but with different color bands so it is important to determine band color. If you observe an American oystercatcher with an alpha-numeric band please report the observation to
Alexandra Wilke
757-442-3049
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Black vulture with a patagial (wing) tag, Dutch Gap, VA |
In the fall of 2007, The Center for Conservation Biology (CCB) marked 100 black vultures with patagial tags (wing tags). Each bird was double tagged with identical markers on each wing. The tags are orange with 3 black numbers. White tags with black characters have also been used briefly in Virginia and further south. If you observe a black vulture with a patagial marker please report the observation to CCB staff:
757-221-1645
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