banding geese Options

[Jason]

Why are you banding the snow geese? What will the information from banding them give us?

[Leslie_Pierce]

Hi Jason,

Banding of snow geese (and other animals as well) gives biologists information on where the animals go during the rest of their migration. The band numbers are registered in a worldwide database so that anyone can find out who put the band on a bird, and where and when it was banded. Birds with bands can be recaptured during another banding operation, captured by hunters, or found dead from other causes. Knowing the time of year and the place the bird was found helps biologists to map out their migratory route.

On the North Slope, snow geese have been increasing in numbers. The increase is more than can be explained by reproduction alone, so banding can help biologists determine from where the birds are immigrating or emigrating (coming or going!).

Ms Pierce