Western Bird Banding Association

SIGNIFICANT ENCOUNTERS

Periodically, North American Bird Bander publishes records that highlight interesting recoveries and recaptures resulting from banding projects. Some of the records may be significant advances in our ornithological knowledge. Banders often regard the recovery of long-lived individuals as being among the most exciting of their results. For the most up-to-date listing of North American longevities, check the Bird Banding Laboratory’s website at the link below.

Subscribers to NABB also enjoy reading about significant encounters. The Editors invite your contributions. What is a significant encounter? Please consider the following criteria:

* birds 5+ years old
* birds reported from sites > 50 mi from their banding location.
* species rarely recovered or banded.
* Individuals with an unusual history.

Of course, each record submitted to the column is considered on a case by case basis. A Rufous Hummingbird banded on its breeding grounds one year and returning the next would not be significant. A Rufous hummer banded in Connecticut during winter and returning the next year would be VERY significant. So each record should be considered individually.

If you have such significant encounters that you would like to see published in North American Bird Bander, please submit them to me using the contact info below. For each encounter, please include the band number, and the date and place of both banding and recapture or recovery.

WBBA recommends that banders also submit longevity records to the BBL. The BBL's criteria for submission are records of birds four years or older if there is no published record, or close to or exceeding the published record.

Jeff Davis, Senior Wildlife Ecologist
jdavis@harveyecology.com (NB: not clickable; to use, copy and paste)

H.T. Harvey & Associates - Ecological Consultants
7815 N. Palm Avenue, Suite 310, Fresno, CA 93711-5531
p. 559.476.3164
f. 559.476.3170
c. 559.246.3272