How to Re-sight Color-banded Birds
Bands are read from the 'bird’s eye-view'. (When looking at a bird’s front side – your left with be their right, and your right will be their left). The data is recorded left leg first then the right leg. A comma (,) is used to separate the left and right legs. A slash (/) is used to designate top from bottom. Every adult bird in the Nestwatch program has 1 aluminum band and 2 color bands. Nestlings that are banded have 1 aluminum band and 1 color band.
When you see a color-banded bird, first try to determine what colors are on the bird, and then what leg they are on. Write down your observations right away so that you don't forget what you saw! If you're not sure about a color, that's ok! Use a question mark (?) to designate a color you don't know, or didn't see. For example:
Y/A,?: This means you saw a Yellow over aluminum on the left, but didn't see the color on the right
Bu, Pk?/A: This means you are sure you saw blue on the left and aluminum on the right, but you only think you saw pink over aluminum on the right.
When you see a color-banded bird, first try to determine what colors are on the bird, and then what leg they are on. Write down your observations right away so that you don't forget what you saw! If you're not sure about a color, that's ok! Use a question mark (?) to designate a color you don't know, or didn't see. For example:
Y/A,?: This means you saw a Yellow over aluminum on the left, but didn't see the color on the right
Bu, Pk?/A: This means you are sure you saw blue on the left and aluminum on the right, but you only think you saw pink over aluminum on the right.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Data do I record?
When you submit data to me please record the following information:
How Frequently Should I Re-sight my birds?
If you can, try to make an effort to look for your color-banded birds at least once a month throughout the year. If you kept your eye out for birds and do not see any color-banded individuals during that month, please report that information too. If you see the color-banded birds frequently, feel free to submit that information, however submitting one sighting per month is sufficient. If you re-sight a color-banded bird opportunistically (i.e. you were not actively looking for birds) definitely enter this information!
What Time of Day Should I look for birds?
The optimal time to re-sight is between 7 AM to 10 AM, since birds are most active in the morning. If you have an active nest in the yard, you can watch for color-banded birds visiting the nest at any time.
How Much Area Should We Cover?
The most important area to cover is your own yard. If desired, feel free to walk an area around your neighborhood about 200 feet around your house to look for birds using other areas of it's territory. Some participants have found their color banded birds using neighboring parks and wooded areas. Others have resighted color-banded birds from other nearby participants! Be sure to let us know if you saw the bird in a location that wasn't your yard.
What are the combinations of birds banded in my yard?
If you would like an updated list of the birds color-banded in your yard, visit here
or contact Desiree at [email protected].
When you submit data to me please record the following information:
- Your First and Last Name
- The date of your sighting
- The species of your bird
- The color band combination
- Any Notes that are important (Location you saw the bird, tending a nest, feeding fledges, etc.)
How Frequently Should I Re-sight my birds?
If you can, try to make an effort to look for your color-banded birds at least once a month throughout the year. If you kept your eye out for birds and do not see any color-banded individuals during that month, please report that information too. If you see the color-banded birds frequently, feel free to submit that information, however submitting one sighting per month is sufficient. If you re-sight a color-banded bird opportunistically (i.e. you were not actively looking for birds) definitely enter this information!
What Time of Day Should I look for birds?
The optimal time to re-sight is between 7 AM to 10 AM, since birds are most active in the morning. If you have an active nest in the yard, you can watch for color-banded birds visiting the nest at any time.
How Much Area Should We Cover?
The most important area to cover is your own yard. If desired, feel free to walk an area around your neighborhood about 200 feet around your house to look for birds using other areas of it's territory. Some participants have found their color banded birds using neighboring parks and wooded areas. Others have resighted color-banded birds from other nearby participants! Be sure to let us know if you saw the bird in a location that wasn't your yard.
What are the combinations of birds banded in my yard?
If you would like an updated list of the birds color-banded in your yard, visit here
or contact Desiree at [email protected].
What colors could I see?
There are eight colors that are used in the nestwatch program:
There are eight colors that are used in the nestwatch program:
- Red: R
- Blue: B
- Black: Bk
- Yellow: Y
- White: W
- Green: G
- Purple: P
- Pink: Pk
- Aluminum: A (This is the USGS federal band)