Hi Folks -

Saw this on the Bird Banding Listserver. Since I have a bird banding
permit, I am often asked to report banded "rock doves".

The US Bird Banding Laboratory and the Canadian Wildlife Service's Banding
Office *Do Not Allow* the standard Federal bands to be used on 'feral' or
domestic rock doves (nor on resident 'game birds' such as grouse, pheasants,
quail, etc.) - only on birds covered under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Birds wearing the USGS/CWS bands or auxiliary markers can be reported by
calling toll-free to 1-800-327-BAND (2263) from anywhere in Canada or the
United States. The operator will need to know the band number, how, when and
where the bird or band was found. You can also contact the banding
lab/office electronically at bandreports at patuxent.usgs.gov (more
information at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/homepage/call800.htm ) or by
writing

USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Bird Banding Laboratory
12100 Beech Forest Road
Laurel, MD 20708-4037 USA or

Bird Banding Office
National Wildlife Research Centre
Canadian Wildlife Service
Hull, Quebec, Canada K1A 0H3

Of course, there are a lot of pigeon racers and 'fanciers' whose birds
escape into the wild on a regular basis. These pigeons often get turned
around during a race or escape from their cotes. The birds will show up at
people's feeders, in parks or other public places. I had been ignorant as
to where these birds could be reported (and/or returned to their owners,
etc.) until I read the following. I hope that this information is useful to
those of us who pay attention to those little bits of metal or plastic on
birds' legs...

Jon. Anderson
Olympia, Washington
festuca at olywa.net
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>From the American Pigeon Racing Union, Inc.
http://www.pigeon.org/

Understanding how to read a pigeon band

The American Racing Pigeon Union registered bands have a specific
format. Once you understand how to read the band number, you will find it
easy to locate the club that issued the band on our Band List page. Make
sure to visit our page on How to Care for a Lost Pigeon.

Band numbers are in a series of letters & numbers as shown below.

EXAMPLE= the band may read-->AU 99 ABC 1234

(1) - AU - is the national organization that has registered the bird,
in this case the American Racing Pigeon Union, Inc. The band can also have
IF, CU, ATB, NBRC, or IPB in this position.

(2) - 99 - is the year the bird was hatched and banded/registered.

(3) - ABC - is a letters representing the pigeon club the band is
registered to (no two clubs have the same registration letters - and they
have one, two or three letters).

(4) - 1234 - A one-up number unique to each pigeon based on the club
letters. Now that you understand how to read the band, you can go back to
our band list to find the club that the bird you found belongs to.

NOTE: (PERSONALIZED BANDS) Sometimes the band may just have the owners
name, phone and/or address on it that you may call or write them.

If the band has different letters than AU, it may be another
organization.

If the band has the letters CU. you can find their band list at
http://www.crpu.org/cu1.htm

If the band has the letters IF. you can find their band list at
http://www.americanhoming.org/

If the band has the letters NPA. you can contact them at
http://www.npausa.com/

If the band has the letters NBRC. you can contact their organization
secretary at (903) 628-2034, or E-mail them at Henry.Cook at gte.net.

If the band has the letters IPB. you can contact them at
foyspigeon at juno.com, or their store at (612) 537-4242.

If the band does not have an AU , or one of the above mentioned
organization letters on it, send us an email . We will do our best to help
you find the owner of the bird. If the bird has no band at all, It is a
wild pigeon..... Contact your Local Humane Society.

Thank you for taking the time to care for lost pigeons.
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