I'm a so-called "Master" bander, i.e. have a "master-permittee" banding
permit. "AVISE" are the letters that are inscribed on the inside of U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service aluminum leg bands. It means advise the USFWS of
any and all information you can about how, when, and where you re-sighted
or collected the bird with the band. You can contact the bird banding lab's
webpage at www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/homepage. There is a link on this
page for reporting band numbers, but not color bands.

You might also call Mike Davison, a biologist with Washington Dept. of Fish
and Wildlife at 360-466-4325, ext. 280. He does research on Brant and
would know more about this than I.

Cheers,

Chris Thompson, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
WDFW