Bird banding bonanza
Each band or collar tells a story
Of all the activities I’ve participated in during my 20 years with the DWR, I would have to say that banding birds is my favorite. Banding often requires 24 hours of straight work, but it is such a rush, that you just don’t notice the lack of sleep or food!
The “where, when, why and how” of bird migration is often answered by tracking their movements through banding and collaring. It is exciting to see birds with leg bands or neck collars because these tools provide a snapshot look at the birds’ lives and incredible journeys.
In the late winter of 2009, I captured some video of a rare visitor to Utah — a drake Eurasian wigeon that was traveling with a small group of American wigeons. It was fun to see them feeding side by side and to contrast the iridescent green on the head of the American wigeon to the rich russet color of the Eurasian wigeon. Both species had the characteristic buff-colored patch on the tops of their heads.
But the really amazing thing was that while editing the video, I saw a flash of silver on the leg of the Eurasian wigeon. Although it was too far away to read the band, I was still excited to see that the bird was banded.
Migratory birds that travel above the Arctic Circle will occasionally travel from the eastern to western hemisphere — and vice versa. Was this the case for the Eurasian drake? Or did he escape from a zoo or another collection? The fact that he was traveling with other wigeons lead me to believe that he was a wild bird with a wild traveling story!
Then, that same week, an adult tundra swan came with a small family group and fed on pondweed in a pond near my home. It was wearing a blue collar with white letters and numbers.
DWR biologists hold two banded tundra swans.
This year, I also helped to capture and band the snow geese that were moving through the agricultural areas of Box Elder County. It was an incredible experience — almost like touching a small piece of Arctic wilderness — and it’s certainly a project I want to help with again next year.
August 13, 2009 at 2:28 pm
i was curious how would i be able to get envolved in banding waterfowl? i am in love with waterfowl hunting and conservation, but i am only 18. is there any way i could volunteer my time and band some waterfowl with the dwr? if i could it would be and absolute pleasure please contact me and let me know if it is possible. dmassey09@hotmail.com
September 13, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Pretty cool week, I would say. I like the video as well. You guys have a great job. I think I need to reconsider my career choice..lol
October 26, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Really like the videos you guys put together. Very nicely done!
Keep up the good work
December 7, 2009 at 8:45 am
I can’t seem to find the connection (on your otherwise excellent website) with information for obtaining a non-game bird banding permit. Can you help me?
Thanks -
Susan Craig
Colorado Springs, CO
January 14, 2010 at 9:26 am
Where was the E. Wigeon?
January 27, 2010 at 2:57 pm
How can i and my son get involved with the banding process in Utah?
February 19, 2010 at 9:50 pm
Very cool video, keep on sharing more about the topic.
July 3, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Do you band any types of birds other than water fowl? There are a pare of young owls at my parents house. Do you keep a raptor count?
July 26, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Hello Phil!
I really enjoyed the video, thank you for sharing. I recently became a Major Sponsor at Ducks Unlimited. I hope to be able to participate in a bird banding program someday. I think it would be a lot of fun. I have been a duck hunter since 1973. Regards, Rick
August 16, 2010 at 3:02 am
It breeds in the northernmost areas of Europe and Asia.[5] It is the Old World counterpart of North America’s American Wigeon. It is strongly migratory and winters further south than its breeding range. It migrates to southern Asia and Africa.
April 6, 2011 at 1:55 am
Cool that birds can still do the migratory path, just wondering with the influence of mankind, how much longer or what future hold for migrating birds.