Old Bands

[frazierw]

Last day of the season and I shot a double banded hen.  I was pretty thrilled when I got a closer look at the bands.  She was an old gal for sure.

[h2ofowlr]

You can have them etched to pull the numbers out.  Just don't leave them in the acid or they disolve.  I shot one similar yesterday that I have to etch.

[frazierw]

Have you ever had one etched before?  How much does it change the band?

[full choke]

How much is that reward band, $100?

[frazierw]

Tough to read, it is either $10 or $100, or $1000 

[hunterednate]

That is so rad! Congratulations. Would love to know how old that hen was if you can make out the numbers.

[phildobaggins]

That's awesome!

[KP-Skagit]

Those bands are more worn than a banded snow I shot that was 13 years old!

[ASHQUACK]

Have a Harliquen band that was completely smooth and almost worn through. It was on him 13 years and banded in Canada. Had to send it in to have it etched and reported.

[Blacktail135]

 Congratulations! Those look ancient!

[hunterednate]

Have a Harliquen band that was completely smooth and almost worn through. It was on him 13 years and banded in Canada. Had to send it in to have it etched and reported.

So cool! Any pics of the harly with the band you can share?

[frazierw]

Have a Harliquen band that was completely smooth and almost worn through. It was on him 13 years and banded in Canada. Had to send it in to have it etched and reported.

How much did the etching change the band?

[WALLEYEGUY]

Have a Harliquen band that was completely smooth and almost worn through. It was on him 13 years and banded in Canada. Had to send it in to have it etched and reported.

How much did the etching change the band?

And where did you send it, I have a couple from my younger days.

[frazierw]

Have a Harliquen band that was completely smooth and almost worn through. It was on him 13 years and banded in Canada. Had to send it in to have it etched and reported.

How much did the etching change the band?

And where did you send it, I have a couple from my younger days.

Bird Banding Labratory
12100 Beech Forest Lane
Laurel, MD 20708
Attn: Band to be etched

[ASHQUACK]

Have a Harliquen band that was completely smooth and almost worn through. It was on him 13 years and banded in Canada. Had to send it in to have it etched and reported.

How much did the etching change the band?

And where did you send it, I have a couple from my younger days.

Bird Banding Labratory
12100 Beech Forest Lane
Laurel, MD 20708
Attn: Band to be etched

This, and it was free.
I doesn't change the band at all.  Unless they have to flatten it. You can request they don't.

[ASHQUACK]

Best pic I still have.

[frazierw]

What a trophy, that is incredible!

[ASHQUACK]

What a trophy, that is incredible!

It's my only ever solo band.

[hunterednate]

Best pic I still have.

That is awesome. Hard to top....but the double old reward bands from Ashquack give it a run for its money. Congrats to both of you.

[BD1]

This what Old Googly Eyes came up with
https://www.google.com/search?q=Bird+Banding+Labratory+12100+Beech+Forest+Lane+Laurel%2C+MD+20708&rlz=1C1GCEV_en&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[BD1]

Good luck and lets us know what you come up with 

[bigdub257]

We shot a banded redhead a few years ago.  The band was completely smooth. Didn't know they could etch them to read the data.  Think I'll send it in also out of curiosity.  Always fun to see where and when a bird was banded.

[frazierw]

Finally got the info back on my band.  The bird was banded in 2010 in Othello.

[lewy]

Wow I didn’t realize ducks lived that long in the wild

[hunterednate]

Finally got the info back on my band.  The bird was banded in 2010 in Othello.

So cool. That old hen ran the Columbia Basin gauntlet for over a decade. Impressive. Thanks for sharing.

[Dan-o]

Finally got the info back on my band.  The bird was banded in 2010 in Othello.

So cool. That old hen ran the Columbia Basin gauntlet for over a decade. Impressive. Thanks for sharing.

That really is cool.

Would love to see a map of her flight pattern over those years. 

[Goshawk]

I know it's apples and oranges, but over the years of raising flying mallards, I've had a few that stick around like pets rather than migrate.  The oldest drake (Donald of course) lived to be 15 years old before a river otter pulled him under.  he was still flying and doing fine, so it's possible some of our "tough meals" might be very old ducks.

[h2ofowlr]

I had a buddy that wanted to try etching one of my old bands to pull the numbers out.  He must not have watched any YouTube videos and left the band in the acid vs. placing some on a Q-Tip and going over the face.  The acid completely at the band.  Only trace of the band was some darker sediment in the bottom of the cup.