I think it is ridiculous that someone would go out and band the CCLO and
then NOT TELL ANYONE what they had found out about its sex and plumage.
Isn't the entire point of banding a bird to gather useful information for
the interested public to share? Especially a bird like the CCLO that had
instigated a long discussion about sexing winter longspurs by plumage?

Of course, now I want to know how the bander knew it was an adult male --
done by plumage, I assume? Or body size? or what? Were photos taken?
What date was it done on? These questions might seem intrusive to the
bander, but I think they are fair.

A rare bird that is attracting birders from all over really is a "public
property" and I think banding such a bird secretly and keeping the
information to oneself is a very selfish act. Not to mention hazardous
to the public image of ornithologists (this IS an important
consideration. Laypeople who get annoyed at banders have on occasion
raised a huge stink, i.e. complaining noisily to FWS, instigating review
of the permit, etc.)

(Note: I am not opposed to banding per se, just to the secretive sort of
banding that seems to have happened with the CCLO.)

Kathleen Hunt
U.W. Zoology