Bluebill Banding 2014... (Rekindling an old post...)

Pat~

What a great account! I never did get to band divers - but I remember plenty of frigid February days banding Brant - and sometimes by the headlights on the truck.

And, as you point out, the back on that Drake is perfect. To my mind, the back of a drake Scaup is one of the most compelling sights in nature. The subtle gradation toward the stern shows well in your photo.

All the best,

SJS
 
Mike - Doc says that generally only 25% of what migrates through in the spring returns in the fall. He also says, the oldest scaup he's recorded was 22 years old. However, on the average, he finds the the average lesser only lives 2-3 years.

Steve - Banding brant must have been an adventure and, a handful... Pat
 
Thanks for sharing your photos of this great work. I enjoy seeing photos of field work.

You mention how the aluminum bands weren't holding up on the scaup. I once shot a bufflehead that was banded not quite three years before. The last half of the numbers were almost illegible. Oddly the whole band also had a shiny look, like it had a heavy coat of poly on it.
 
Pat,
Thank you for that wonderful account of banding scaup. I'm glad you mentioned Dr. Afton because he and Bobby Cox were writing a paper on senescence when I shipped them a mallard hen that I shot ten years ago that looked like a drake.

Brad was so right about banding 750 birds. By the time you are done, you do realize it has been a full day!

Pat, I really enjoyed this.
Al
 
Pat, Al posted up a picture of the scaup decoy you gave him. I'm not sure who was more excited: you for the chance to handle a bunch of scaup or him to get a decoy from you.
 
Brad - That decoy was an early retirement gift and, a big thank you for all his good work on these precious scaup. You are correct, the enjoyment I recieve from assisting this work is amazing. I would hope that every waterfowler would be able to contribute to a work effort like this.

The main difference between the scaup Doc received and the ones I handled is the one Doc received didn't poop down the front of his waders... :)

Have a great day! Pat
 
Pat that's really neat. I love having cages full of ducks waiting to be accessorized with some new jewelry. Looks like fun

Ever had any returns on birds you've banded?

Dani
 
Dani - We do get them and had several this year. We call them "recaps" for recaptured. We had one this past weekend that was a threepeat...

When processing, I generally pull each bird from the crate to hand to the biologist to check the crop for corn. My job, other than pulling them from the crate, I check for recaps and, any greaters in the bunch. Pretty easy job but, I love it. Doing as many as I do, I tend to talk to them for the short time I have them. I generally tell each of them, it's really a pretty good deal, "You get a free meal, contribute to research and, some jewelry to go..." :) Pat
 
rookie mistake there Pat. Its even better when handling Canada geese feeding on grass or winter wheat. With a little training you can get them to poop down your neighbor's boots, back, arm or whatever you aim at.
 
I'll take either bills or Canadas over snows or specks. Snows love to grab belly or arm skin and twist like it's three-square root, and specks have an affinity for nipples.

Clint
 
Too funny Brad. I have lots to learn. The tough part is, once I learned how to master the technique, would be getting my hunting buddies to go with me.

Clint - the whole nipple thing makes me nervous... I'm not even going to ask... Pat
 
Well that's pretty cool....clearly that treepeat has learned where to get him some free food

I enjoy my jobs at banding too, though they're pretty different from yours: I get to either hang off the side of an airboat and snatch them off the water, or stand behind Steve who is doing the snatching and then I take the birds from him and stuff them down the chute to the duck cage. What's not to love? Especially love it when we get blackbellies.
 
I hear you Clint. Canadas like ear lobes and noses too. Never had the nipple problem, but I think you might be doing something wrong. Tundra swans and Trumpeters go totally limp in your arms.
 
Brad,

Thing is, it is often so warm that after the first few birds we're down to t-shirts which provide NO protection.

Clint
 
Alright, I'm feeling a little better Clint...

I did have one scaup get after my finger when I went in after him. Pretty out of character for scaup. They are fairly docile. I just cover their eyes and they go limp... Pat
 
Pat,

I always enjoyed ruddies . Easiest way to get them out of the holding box was to put your hand in with fingers spread wide, then when you pulled your hand out you'd have a ruddy clamped on each finger. Coots always draw blood with their toenails.

Cliny
 
Really neat stuff, thanks for sharing all of the pictures Pat. Have read of Dr. Afton's work before, diver hunters for generations will thank him.
 
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