Why are birds banded?
Occasionally you will see a bird with a small aluminum bracelet around its ankle. If the bird is dead, remove the band, or carefully write down the numbers engraved on it. These numbers, when entered into a computer at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Lab, will tell where and when the bird was banded. This provides biologists with information on migration and longevity. Send the band, or the numbers, with the date and exact location where the bird was found, to: Bird Banding Lab 12100 Beech Forest Road Laurel, MD 20708-4037 Or, better yet, call them at 1-800-327-BAND (327-2263). You will receive acknowledgment of your find, and information on when and where the bird was banded. For additional information, everything in fact you ever wanted to know about banding, check the Bird Banding Lab’s very interesting web site.
