August 4 Options

[Ben Akootchook]

what is banding?...and what does it do?

[Leslie_Pierce]

Hi Ben,

Banding means to place a metal band around the leg of a bird. The bands for snow geese are pretty small, less than an inch long, and maybe 1/2 an inch wide. The bands are placed around the leg, and, taking a special tool like pliers, clamping it shut around the leg.

Have you ever caught a duck or goose with a band on its leg? Maybe someone in your family? I'll bet your father has caught one before.

The bands help scientists to figure out where the birds go when they leave the area where they are banded. We have lots of birds that come up to the North Slope in the summer. Where do they go in the winter? That's what the bands can tell us. Whenever you find a bird with a band, call the phone number on the band to report it. The information is very valuable in learning more about bird migration patterns.


Ms Pierce