Online Waterfowl Band Reporting System Offers Convenience

If you have to refer back to this blog, chances are you've been lucky.

That is, you've likely shot a banded duck or goose and want to know how to report it. The answer is pretty simple: www.reportband.gov, the U.S. Geological Survey's Patuxent Bird Banding Laboratory's website for reporting band information. And that's especially important this season, because as of July, you must report band info online. Even if the band is inscribed with an 800 telephone number, you can only report it via the website.

The process is easy. When you enter the site, you'll need the band number, or numbers if the bird has more than one band. You'll also have to disclose where, when and how you recovered the bird — pretty standard stuff. You will be prompted for contact information in case researchers have any questions. After the process is complete, the Bird Banding Lab will send you a certificate of appreciation, including information about the sex, age and species of the bird, and when and where it was banded. And, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife website notes, you can keep the band — an important consideration for hunters anxious to add jewelry to their lanyards.

Some of you have likely recovered old or worn bands that were unreadable. No problem. Email the laboratory at [email protected] or click on https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/homepage/etch.cfm to receive information on how to submit the band for chemical etching.

Most bands can be chemically etched so that the numbers can be read, the USFWS website said. The process does not destroy the band, and it will be returned to you.

Hopefully, you'll get a chance to report a banded bird or two on the website this season. You'll have a great story, some more brag-worthy bling and the satisfaction of helping biologists manage migratory birds.

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