Banded dove

[wapiti]

This bird was banded in 2003, amazing that he is still around!

 

[PowDuck]

Wapiti, you just continue with these great pics!

So what's the story? How do you know this mourning dove was banded in 2003? Are you close enough to read the band? Did you band it? Enquiring minds want to know.

 

[wapiti]

I likely banded it at my home. In 03 we used a plain gold band on one leg and a federal band on the other on a percentage of birds. Mainly to be able to tell if the double banded birds were reported more, the following year the same percentage had gold reward bands, then last year only regular bands. Several states participated in the banding.

I only trapped at my home the first banding year, I didn't catch but a dozen or so birds, and this is a plain gold band. He was 5 feet away on my deck when I saw him, then to get the camera.....