Banded birds

So what happens to birds that are banded AFTER they are banded?

My backyard Brown Thrasher.

If their caught or found dead the information (from the band) is sent into the appropriate place and also the original bander and the info is logged. A lot of info can be gotten from both sides depending (such as range,longevity,etc.)

And just occasionally, some truly amazing results . . . like the Arctic Tern chick ringed on the Farne Islands (northeast England) which turned up just 3 months later in Melbourne, Australia (22,000 km by sea route). Or the Northern Fulmar ringed on the Orkney Islands (northern Scotland) which lived to be at least 52 years old, and outlived the person who ringed it.

Resin

That kind of info. is so fasinating. But that means that someone had to mess with the bird. Surely it is usually only trained "banding" people that come across them that decide to capture them to log the information. I can see to potential for disasters. Like injuring or killing them when capturing them. I'm sure it is a jusifiable risk in order to gather the information. And how many thousands are probably never seen again?

I'm showing typical newbie worries I know. I've just never come across a banded bird and never had these thoughts come across my mind before. I guess I'm really just thinking out loud. I know, or course, that all this has been studied and worked out. It's just curious to me. I'm glad there are professional people out there keeping watch over our fine feathered friends. :-)

Thanks for the info. y'all.

It can also be done by getting a tight photo like with Margaret's Osprey.

You might try contacting your local Audubon society. They can tell you the name of certified bird banders in your area. A local bander uses my yard to catch and band hummingbirds. I have helped with the bandings. The process for catcing birds has evolved to an exacting science. It is very safe for the birds captured. Your local bander may let you go along for a banding trip. Lots of info is gathered. Taking part is very interesting.

Johanna, Louisiana

Hi Johanna, Do you know Nancy Newfield?

Amazing!! Yes, I do. She is not the bander who uses my yard but I have watched her band hummers. How do you know her?

I met her through a Hummingbird Forum a number of years ago. She's very knowledgeable; I enjoy talking to her.

I'm not sure where she lives since Katrina. Her home may have been lost in the flooding. She had a wonderful collection of yard plants that attracted many birds. I have gone there to see rare migrating hummers. Lots of people had so many plant collections lost after Katrina--including myself.
I will ask around to see where she is now.
Johanna