Oh--No! The Dreaded----

[Al Hansen]

I was invited to the last rocket shoot of the banding year on 2-10-11. The shot took place around 1:30PM and 77 birds were banded with the majority of them being pintails and greenwing teal.
This was Ashley's shot and she had everything well organized.

From the rocket launch to the time these biologists were in the water handling birds with care was maybe two minutes.

I had a wonderful conversation with this man. He is a professor from the U of W-Stevens Point and was on a sabbatical leave here to study mountain lions. He thought he would give the banding duck operation a try.

Each bird was aged and this bull sprig happened to be an adult.

"All Hands on Deck"----this was a busy place and time is of the essence.

Ashley did all the banding and it was a joy to observe this very enthusiastic, young, waterfowl biologist at work.

This old Christmas stocking has had more birds stuffed into it than you could ever imagine. Once in there they never move a muscle while being weighed.

The next two shots are of the net (60 feet x 40 feet) and the rocket launch equipment.

Finally the birds were released.

 

[jim Williams]

Awesome Al....great shots as always!

 

[John Fraser]

Fun stuff Al. Those drakes have got great colors.

 

[Paul Meisenheimer]

The bird on the hat is priceless. Great pictures.

The one of Ashley carrying the pintail looks like one of MLBob's pickleweeds.

 

[Rob Robertson]

You gave the Birds My address Right Al? Thanks for Sharing. Good Job Everyone.

 

[William Stahl]

Great stuff. That is very interesting.
-

 

[Jay Anglin]

That's really neat. I've always wanted to do a winter banding with the nets. Apparently that's not something that they do here.

Is it just me or does the band on the GWT look a grade too big? Seems HUGE!

 

[Steve Horvath]

Very cool pics, I bet most people have never seen that!

 

[Bill Savoie]

I hope one of those banded beauties flies by my rig. Great shots

 

[Al Hansen]

Bill,
The chief waterfowl biologist told me that he has had a banded pintail recovered in New York! That means it is possible! They also had a pintail recaptured in the northern islands of Japan.
Al

 

[MLBob Furia]

Al,

It's photo-essays like this that make this site great. Thanks for posting another thread.

 

[Pat M]

UW-Stevens Point!!! Thats my old stomping grounds. I don't think I ever had him as a professor but he looks familiar. Most of my biology class were in the CNR (College of Natural Resources) building.

 

[George Brinson]

Great story in pictures, Al. I have been banding waterfowl for 30 years here in Newfoundland, in Atlantic Canada, way, way northeast of you!! However, I do get many band returns for Black Ducks down to Maryland and GW Teal and Ring-neck Ducks from SC to Florida and westward to MS.
Jay, the band on the teal does look larger than the size 4 standard of F&W Service required, but I guess it's just the photo/light conditions. Great stuff.

 

[Farrukh Ashraf]

Looks like a fun day at work, thanks for posting

 

[Dick Sargeant]

Al - Very interestring and informative - great post !
sarge

 

[Patrick Pitt]

Al, do they get any mortality from shooting the net over the water? We've always made shots over land. Just curious. The Teal band does look like a size 5, but I've killed Teal with ones that size. Fascinating that the "No fences in the sky" theory holds true as band returns have always been a source of wonderment. A friend in Iceland killed a Mallard banded in Wisconsin and a Japanese Pintail was killed in Mississippi last year. Never know what will show up. Looks like a fun and interesting morning. Did you get any retraps?

 

[Anthony A]

Pretty neat! I learned a thing or two! Thanks!

 

[Andrew L.]

Great pics Al. Have yet to do any duck banding but have been on a few goose banding adventures. Love getting out there and doing that stuff

 

[Derek and Xena]

That was pretty neat Al! Great post!!!

 

[Capt. Brian Rhodes]

Very very cool Al!

Great shots. That looks like a fun day!