Banded Together

Leg bands bond birds and hunters.

STORY BY P.J. PEREA
PHOTOS BY ADELE HODDE

On a warm, sunny day in June, more than 50 volunteers and Department of Natural Resources staff members silently crouched in tall grass next to a privately owned Fulton County lake intently listening as the low-pitched drone of spinning helicopter blades steadily grew louder. The excitement and activity level of the group rose measurably as the aircraft's quarry, about 50 Canada geese, swam to stay ahead of the noisy machine guiding them toward a shallow bay.

Several Division of Wildlife staff members rushed to the water's edge and waded into the lake, sealing off the entrance of the bay. Most of the adult geese were unable to fly because they recently had shed their old feathers for new ones in an annual process known as molting. The immature geese also were flightless, as most had not grown adult feathers. A few adult geese managed to flap away, eluding the human blockade, but the rest chose a clumsy escape on the shoreline where they were encircled by a human chain of staff members and other volunteers. Four portable fence panels were promptly dispatched and wired together around the confused flock, securing them.

Quickly, the geese were plucked from the pen and handed over to biologists and trained staff who determined the sex of the geese and separated the immature birds from the adult geese. Volunteers picked up the birds from the biologists and took them to one of four queues (adult males, adult females, immature males or immature females) for leg banding. Each metal band had a unique number to identify the wearer for the rest of its life. After the bands were securely fastened to one of their legs, the geese were released unharmed with only a few ruffled feathers. All together, it took about

With the aid of a helicopter and some water-loving DNR staff members,
geese were coaxed toward the shoreline.

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Right: Volunteers and DNR staff coral a flock of giant Canada geese. Below: Mathew Inness hold tightly to his goose as Mike Murphy bands the boy's first bird.

Above: Giant Canada geese are released unharmed to their home water. Top: Each goose was fitted with a uniquely numbered band, courtesy of the USFWS.

15 minutes to process and band the birds after capture. The quick operation ensured that the birds were not unduly stressed—a major concern during hot weather.

Leg bands are highly prized among waterfowl hunters because such a small percentage of the bird's population is banded. Only about 3,000 to 4,000 geese are banded annually throughout the state. The information generated from leg bands has proven invaluable to waterfowl biologists across North America in managing the Canada goose population. Hunters who find a bird with a leg band are advised to call the toll-free number printed on the band (1-800-327-BAND). Only the unique number on the band is needed for reporting purposes. A hunter can keep the band as a keepsake from a successful hunt. The information will be uploaded to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service database, and the hunter will receive a certificate in the mail showing the age and sex of the bird, as well as the location it was banded. Using the information in the database, wildlife biologists can learn about the population size, migratory movements, survival and longevity of the Canada goose population and manage this very valuable waterfowl resource.

August 2001

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