Dennis wrote:

> But the only way you can get them in the bush is to have them in the hand
> first. And the only way that most of them become of value is to get them
> in the hand again!

Aha, but therein lies the beauty of reading band numbers in the field. You
are contributing information on the life history of the bird, as opposed to
being the bearer of sad news that the band in the hand means the bird is alas
no more :'-(

This is especially important for large, long lived birds such as geese.
Whoopers Swans fitted with neck collars in Iceland are being recorded all over
the UK and the low countries, particularly The Netherlands. Some impressive
life history info is being obtained with the same bird sometimes seen dozens
of times at different parts of Europe at different times of the year,
including back on the breeding grounds.

Stuart
---
#import "StandardDisclaimer.h";

Stuart MacKay McCaw Cellular Communications
Consultant Developer Oakhurst Building
Axys V3 14335 NE 24th St.
ph. (206) 702-5151 Bellevue, WA
fax (206) 702-5451 98007

stuart.mackay at mccaw.com
__________________________________________________________