Banded for Life

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Do you and your significant other both enjoy bird hunting? Then incorporate your love of goose and duck hunting into your wedding with NB&T custom leg bands! Here are a few examples of how past customers have added bird bands and their love of hunting into their wedding.

Proposal
Try taking your significant other hunting, and when they shoot a bird, run over to grab it for them and put your proposal band around the bird’s leg.

proposing with a duck band

(Shown – Style 1242-14. Duck band for mallards and other adult wild ducks)

Save The Date
Looking for a unique save the date? Try having “save the date”, your names and wedding date stamped on a bird band.

save the date duck band and goose band

(Shown – Style 1242-28. Large band for Geese, Canadian Geese, and Wild Turkeys)

Wedding Favor for Guest
Wrap a band stamped with your names and wedding date around the top of a bag of treats for your guest. Or set a band at everyone’s place setting.

bird bands for wedding

(Shown – Style 1242-28. Large band for Geese, Canadian Geese, and Wild Turkeys)

Share how you included bird bands at your wedding below!

Federal Replica Bird Band Report

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replica bird bands

Replica Bird Bands

Did you know, National Band & Tag manufactures federal bird bands used by the North American Bird Banding Program? The banding program is jointly administered by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Canadian Wildlife Service. They are headquartered at the Bird Banding Laboratory located at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland. Every year, the Bird Banding Laboratory receives about 1.2 million banding records from Master Banders, and 87,000 encounter records from hunters and researchers.

After you have encountered a banded bird, you can report the band number online to the USGS. They will then send you a Certificate of Appreciation with your name on it, information about the bird, where it was banded, and where you encountered it.

certificate of appreciation

Reporting this information is important because the USGS will then relay the data back to the original bander for their research. Research can range from the population, migration patterns, harvest rates, species health, and more.

National Band & Tag has the approval from the Bird Banding Program to manufacture federal Replica Bands for those with a Certificate of Appreciation. These are exact replicas of the original federal band that you found on the bird. Authentic federal bird bands cannot be replicated by anyone else except National Band & Tag. Replica Bands are popular for groups of people who aren’t sure who shot the banded bird, for those who lost the original band, or for hunters who want the original band on their mount and a replica for their lanyard.

We looked at Replica Band orders from 12/1/13 – 12/31/2017 and collected data from the Certificates of Appreciation to see what species, sex, age, etc. the birds are that we make the most Replica Bands for. Below are our findings.

Q: What species of bird is the most Replica Bands made for?
A: Mallards

(“Other” Category Includes: Black Brant, Green-Winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Common Eider, Mottled Duck, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Aleutian Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Black-Bellied Whistling-Duck, Bufflehead, Cackling Goose, Canvasback, Cinnamon Teal, Gadwall, Mourning Dove, Ring-Necked Duck, Snow X Blue Goose Intergrade, and Surf Scoter).

 

Q: Are Replica Bands made for more male or female birds?
A: Male

Q: What species of bird had the farthest distance between banding and encounter locations that a Replica Band was made for?
A: 3,380 miles (5541 KM) – Male, Black Brant, hatched in 2012, banded 7/15/14 in Alaska, and encountered 7/15/16 in Mexico.

 

Q: What species of bird had the farthest distance between banding and encounter locations within the continental United States that a Replica Band was made for?
A: 1,602 miles (2578 KM) – Male, Green-Winged Teal, hatched in 2009, banded 9/23/2009 in North Dakota, encountered 1 /11/2011 in Louisiana.

 

Q: What is the oldest federal band that a Replica was made for?
A: 1971 – Male, Black Brant, hatched in 1969, banded 7/10/1971 in Alaska, encountered 2/19/1976 in Oregon.

 

Q: What is the oldest banded bird that a Replica was made for?
A: Canada Goose, 23 years old. Hatched 1978, banded 7/28/1978 in Alaska, encountered 1/9/2001 in Oregon. (Sex unknown).

 

Q: What was the shortest amount of time between a bird being banded and encountered that a Replica Band was made for?
A: 20 days – Female, Blue-Winged Teal, hatched in 2011, banded 9/5/2012 in North Dakota, encountered 9/25/2012 in Louisiana.

 

Q: Are more Replica Bands made for birds that were originally banded in the United States or Canada?
A: United States – 55% of Certificates of Appreciation (Canada 45%)

 

Q: What year were the most birds banded in that a Replica was made for?
A: 2013

 

Q: What state had the most encounters that a Replica Band was made for?
A: Arkansas and Louisiana

 

Q: What is the average amount of time between a bird being banded and encountered that NB&T Replica Bands are made for?
A: Average of 3 years

 

Are you interested in ordering a Replica Band? Get information, pricing, and more here.

Promote your Business with Custom Leg Bands

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We can manufacture custom Butt-End bands to help promote your business, whether that be a lanyard maker, duck call maker, electrical application or any other type of business.

The first step is to determine what size band you will need, measure the diameter of the object you are trying to band (lanyard, wire, duck call, etc.).

After determining which size band you need, you can pick your color and decide what you want stamped on the bands. We can stamp your name, website, phone number, logo, etc.

National Band & Tag Sizes – Aluminum Butt-End Bands – Style 1242

1242-3 bird band 1242-4 bird band 1242-5 bird band 1242-6 bird band 1242-7 bird band
1242-8 bird band 1242-10 bird band 1242-12 bird band 1242-14 bird band 1242-16 bird band
1242-18 bird band 1242-20 bird band 1242-22 bird band 1242-24 bird band 1242-28 bird band

How to Close a Butt-End Band:

  1. Place the opened band around the lanyard, duck call, mount, etc.
  2. While using the correct size applicator, make sure to fit the band into the lower hole of the applicator.
  3. Squeeze the applicator shut to correctly seal the band.

(If the band does not shut all the way on the first time, rotate the band in the applicator and squeeze the applicator again. Continue rotating the band and squeezing the applicator until it is completely shut.)

bird band on a duck call

duck band paracord bracelets

duck band on a duck call on a lanyard

Happy Thanksgiving!

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To celebrate Turkey Day, we are featuring our leg bands and wing bands for both domestic and wild turkeys.

Rivet Bands – Style # 1242FR9 (7/8” diameter) for turkeys, and wild turkeys. Style 1242FR9A (1” diameter) for turkey toms.
turkey leg band

There are different types of wing bands that can be used as well. If you prefer plastic, we offer a larger polyurethane wing band. If you prefer metal we offer a self-piercing wing band.

turkey wing band

turkey wing band

Customize your bands with your logo!

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logo on bird bandLooking for a metal leg or wing band with your logo stamped on it? We can make a custom hardened steel stamp of your logo!  There is a one-time charge of $200 to $500 or more (depending on the detail of the logo) to make the stamp block. We will keep your logo stamp block on file for future orders that you would like to have stamped with your logo.

For a quote, please submit your logo in black and white line art to [email protected].

Example:

bad logo example

good logo example

Happy 4th of July from the NB&T Family!

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bald eagleThis Independence Day we want to celebrate by featuring bird bands for our national bird, the Bald Eagle.  The bald eagle was chosen June 20, 1782 as the emblem of the United States of America, because of its long life, great strength, and majestic looks, and because it was then believed to exist only on this continent.

For birds of prey, we recommend Rivet Bands so that the bird cannot pull it off with its break.

Bald Eagle: Size 8A or 9
Golden Eagle: Size 9, 9A or 9C

(These sizes are recommended from the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory and should only be used as a guide. NB&T is not responsible for incorrect sizes being ordered based on these recommendations.)

bird rivet bands

rivet bands on bald eagle

The silver Rivet Bands are usually attached to an eaglet’s leg while they are still young, but their legs are fully grown. The silver Rivet Bands are attached by US Fish and Wildlife services, while the colored band represents the individual bander or organization doing the research.

Have you seen a banded bald eagle? Learn more about reporting banded birds from The Center for Conservation Biology.

Why use leg and wing bands to identify your poultry?

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For chickens, ducks, quail, pheasants, peafowl, turkeys, and more, the correct type of id band can make all the difference when it comes time to sell or breed your birds. Identification is helpful for multiple reasons including, but not limited to:

  • Keeping track of the number of birds you have
  • Helping lost or stolen birds are returned to the proper owner
  • Tracking pedigree
  • Tracing generations
  • Recording when birds were born and keeping track of the ages of your flock
  • Meeting requirements for shows/competitions
  • Tracking migration patterns
  • And more!

There are multiple types of identification such as wing bands and leg bands available to meet your needs, from color-coding, blank bands, custom stamped bands, numbered bands, stamped sequential numbering or even laser etched barcodes.

Wing Bands

Wing Bands

brass Leg Bands

Leg Bands

For example, you could use a different color every year to track age, barcodes to track pedigree, or sequential numbering to track the number of birds you have. 

Not sure where to get started? Learn more about What Type of Poultry Identification Is Best for You

What type of poultry identification is best for you?

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Wing Bands
Wing bands are a permanent type of identification with a high retention rate that will stay with the chick for life and grow with it. Wing bands will not bother the bird and may be covered with feathers when they are older, making it more difficult to read. Wing bands are usually put on chicks, anywhere from a day old to a few weeks, but can also be put on adult birds.

Learn more about: Which Wing Band is Best for You

wingbands

Leg Bands
Leg bands are aluminum or plastic band that wrap around a bird’s leg and must be fitted to their leg size. Leg bands are more commonly used on fully grown birds, but when used on a young bird, the band must be constantly changed as the bird’s leg grows. Leg bands can be a temporary source of identification or a permanent one. Plastic leg bands will fall off easier than metal ones due to the bird pecking at it or excess exposure to weather. Leg bands are the best option for those who do not wish to pierce the skin with a wing band or toe punch.

Learn more about: Which Leg Band is Best for You

leg band varieties

***Try a combination of leg bands and wing bands for guaranteed identification***

Peepers / Blinders
Plastic Peepers and Blinders are used to stop cannibalism amongst birds, such as chickens and pheasants, by hiding other birds from view. These are considered the modern version of chicken glasses. Some people will only use Peepers on birds that cause problems, while others will use them on their whole flock as a preventive measure. Try using different colors to track different ages or flocks of birds.

blinders for chickens

Toe Punches
Toe Punches can be used to mark the webbing between the toes of baby chicks. This option works for those who don’t need colors or numbers to achieve their ID goals. Toe Punches create a small 2mm hole in the webbing, and there is a total of 16 different markings possible (one hole, two holes, left foot, right foot, etc.). Toe punches can also be used to pre-punch a hole in the wing webbing for wing bands.

toe punches

Other Poultry Identification Options:
Neck Tags – Plastic tags that can be hung by the neck of a baby chick.

Wing Badges – Large plastic badge that attaches to the wing and has large visible numbers.

Bird Bits – Plated steel or plastic bits that are placed in the bird’s nostrils to help stop pecking. Special/deep feeders are needed so the birds may continue to eat.

 

Click Here to View All National Band & Tag’s Poultry ID Products!

Which Leg Band is Best for You?

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Which Leg Band is best for you?

The first step to finding the right leg band for your needs is to determine what size you will need. Sizes are based on the inside diameter of the band. Not all leg band styles are available in all sizes.

Size Guide

Leg Band Size Guidance Chat

This chart should be used as a guide only. The most accurate way to find the correct leg band size is to measure your bird’s leg. We are not responsible for incorrect sizes being ordered based on this chart.
Inside Diameter of Band Breed of Poultry, Small Birds, Gamebirds, Etc.
3/32” Sparrows, Swallows, Warblers, Goldfinch, House Wrens
1/8” Canaries, Chickadees, Quail (1 day – 2wks), Evening Grosbeak, Titmouse
5/32” Quail (2 wks – 4wks), Canaries (Yorkshire & larger breeds), Parakeets, Love Birds, Budgerigar
3/16” Doves, Pheasant Poults (1 day – 5 wks), Cockatiels, California Valley Quail, Mexican Quail (adults).
7/32” Quail (4 wks – average adult), Mississippi Quail, Massachusetts Quail, Bobwhite Quail.
¼” Baby Chicks, Small pigeons (squabs, Archangels, Nuns, Tipplers, Rollers, Turbets, Fantails) Doves, growing Pheasants (4 – 8 wks), Quail (adult Northern or Southern extra-large birds)
5/16” Wild Ducks (1 day – 6wks), Medium Pigeons, Wild Geese (1 day – 6wks), Woodduck, Pheasant females, (golden & fancy breeds, adults), Blue Winged Teal, Hungarian Partridge
3/8” Growing Chicks, Large Pigeons (Show Homers, English Carriers, Carneaux, English Pouters, Hungarian Kings, White Kings, Mondaines, Feather Legged Toys); adult Ringneck Pheasants, Wild Ducks (6 weeks to adult), Wild Geese (4-10 weeks), Woodducks, Ruffed Grouse (female); Chukar Partridge, Gadwall Ducks, Pintail Ducks, Prairie Chickens, Chinese Pheasants.
7/16” Bantams, Largest Pigeons (Giant Runts, Crosses, Tiger Swallows, Runt Crosses, Trumpeters, Bantams), Pheasants (males all breeds), Wild Ducks (mallards, adults – all breeds), Sage Grouse (female) Peacock Pheasants, Ringneck Pheasants, Mallard Ducks, Baldpate & Pintail Ducks, Ruffed Grouse (male).
½” Grouse, Geese (6-12 wks.), Wild Ducks, English Call Ducks, Ringneck Pheasants (male)
9/6” Leghorns Hens, Ancona, Silkie, Gamebirds
5/8” Minorcas, Wyandottes, Crossbreeds
11/16” Leghorn (Cocks), Rocks, Reds
¾” Orpingtons, Canadian Geese (small race), Wild Geese, Wild Turkeys
13/16” Brahmas, Langshans, Large Ducks
7/8” Turkeys, Hens, Large Male Chickens, Geese, Wild Turkeys, Canadian Geese (large race, Honkers)
1” Turkey Toms

 

Butt-End Leg Bands

  • Style 1242
  • These aluminum leg bands are available in multiple colors and are one of our most popular styles of leg bands. Sizes are available to fit almost any species of bird all the way from a hummingbird up to a swan. The applicator is required for opening and closing the leg bands (exception size 24 and up – you can use slip joint pliers)
  • New – 1242-22S has been made in a shorter height for roosters.
  • Federal band sizes and hard metal Butt-End Bands are available for those who require it.

leg bands

Adjustable Leg Bands

  • Atlas Seal Style 305A & 305AL (Aluminum) and 305ABR (Brass)
    • Our most popular permanent sealed leg band, can be adjusted before closing to three different sizes.
  • Other adjustable leg bands are available for small species such as quail. Click the Adjustable Leg Band link above to view the styles available.

adjustable leg bands

Plastic Leg Bands

  • Spirals (Styles 2104 – 2116) and Bandettes (Styles 905-914)
  • Both are made from a plastic material and they will coil around the leg.
  • Bandettes are available numbered,
    Sizes 7, 9, 11, 12: Numbering from 1 to 200
    Sizes 5, 6, 14: Numbering from 1 to 100

plastic leg bands

Other Leg Band Styles

  • Lock-On Bands
    • Aluminum lock-on bands have a tab that folds over and can be sealed using pliers.
    • These bands are usually used for birds of prey such as vultures, bald eagles, and raptors.

lock on band

  • Rivet Bands
    • Use pop rivets and a pop rivet gun to seal the rivet band around the bird’s leg
    • These bands are usually used for birds of prey such as vultures, bald eagles, and raptors.

rivet band

  • Non-Adjustable Leg Bands
    • Thin metal bands that cannot be adjusted to a different size 

non adjustable leg band

Now that you’ve picked out your leg band style, view our blog on How-To: Apply your Leg Band!

bandetter plastic band

banding a bird

banding a bird

 

How-To: Open and Close Leg Bands

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How to Apply Metal Leg Bands:

  1. Place the opened band around the bird’s leg.
  2. While using the correct size applicator, make sure to fit the band into the lower hole of the applicator.
  3. Squeeze the applicator shut to correctly seal the band. (If the band does not shut all the way on the first time, rotate the band in the applicator and squeeze the applicator again. Continue rotating the band and squeezing the applicator until it is completely shut.)
  4. Check to make sure the band is properly sealed before releasing the bird.

how to band a bird

How to Apply Plastic Leg Bands: Unroll the coil and then place it around the leg. It will re-coil once you let go.

Remember, practice makes perfect! After banding a couple of birds, you will get used to banding and find the right holding technique for you!

Check out some of these other helpful guides and videos for putting a leg band on, made by customers and end-users:

 

A History of Leg Bands and Ear Tags

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Click to download a PDF of our Visual History Timeline.

visual history timeline screen shot

LEG BANDS

1595 – The first record of a metal band attached to a bird’s leg was when one of Henry IV’s banded Peregrine Falcons was lost and found later in Malta, about 1350 miles away.

1669 – Duke Ferdinand placed a silver band on a Grey Heron around 1669. The bird was recovered by his grandson almost 60 years later in 1728.

1710 – A German falconer captured a grey heron with several rings on one leg. The bander was unknown but one of the rings was placed on the heron in Turkey, more than 1,200 miles to the east.

1803 – The first records of banding in North America are those of John James Audubon, the famous American naturalist. He tied silver cords to the legs of a brood of Phoebes and was able to identify two of the nestlings when they returned the following year.

1899 – Hans Mortensen, a Danish school teacher, began placing aluminum rings on the legs of bird. He inscribed the bands with his name and address in the hope they would be returned to him if found.

1902 – National Band & Tag is founded and starts selling leg bands for poultry.

1904 – The real pioneer bander in the Americas was Jack Miner who established the Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Between 1909 and 1939 he banded 20,000 Canada Geese alone, many of which carried bands returned to him by hunters.

1920 – Frederick Lincoln forms the North American bird banding program that we all know today as the United States Geological Survey (USGS Bird Banding Lab).

2010 – NB&T starts making Replica Bands.

2017 – The oldest banded bird, Wisdom, a Laysan Albatross, has a baby at age 66.

EAR TAGS

1799 – Livestock ear tags were developed in 1799 under the direction of Sir Joseph Banks, for identification of King George III’s Merino sheep flock. Matthew Boulton designed and produced the first ear tags for sheep made from tin.

1895 – Ear tags were incorporated as breed identification in the United States with the forming of the International Ohio Improved Chester Association.

1913 – Ear tags were developed in Canada as a means to identify cattle when testing for tuberculosis.

1945 – The first ear tags were primarily steel with nickel plating. After World War II, larger, flag-like, plastic tags were developed in the United States.

1949 – National Band & Tag invents the style 49 ear tag for cattle.

1953 – The first two-piece, self-piercing plastic ear tag was developed and patented.

1956 – National Band & Tag invents the style 56 ear tag for cattle.

1992 – NB&T assists in getting the first USDA Organic Certification.

2004 – The U.S. Government asked farmers to use EID or Electronic Identification ear tags on all their cattle. This request was part of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

What bands and tags do you sell the most?

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At NB&T we offer hundreds of bands and tags to choose from, all in a multitude of shapes, sizes, colors, and materials. We sell tags to various industries, including, but not limited to: poultry, cattle, lab animal research, companion animals, wildlife conservation and industrial applications.

With so many different tags to choose from, we took a poll amongst our customer service representatives and asked, “What bands and tags do you sell the most?”

(These numbers are not a true representation of our sales overall, but show what our customer service reps get the most phone calls about).

tag pie chart

A Few of Our Favorite Tags

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Do you have a favorite tag?

At NB&T, we have hundreds of styles of tags to choose from, so we asked some of the employees, what is your favorite tag style and why?

Ryan (Global Accounts): Style 60 – “It was the first tag I ever sold, and I like the 60 versus the 61 because it has the dog stamped on it.”  

dog house tag

 
Joe (VP Purchasing/Office, Treasurer): Style 1005-1 – “We manufacture hundreds of thousands of these each year. They are our most profitable style of tag, which is why they are my favorite!”  

mouse ear tag

 
Natasha (Sales Representative): Style 1242 – “Butt-End Bands are my favorite because they can be completely customized.  A lot of my repeat customers use them as business cards or promotional items. I enjoy working with them to find the best layout, size and color for their use.”  

1242 duck bands

 
Aris (Bilingual Sales Representative): Style 890 – “The Zip is my favorite wing band because a lot of my customers like the style, colors and options available. I love recommending design options if they are unsure of what they want. My customers always end up happy with the final product.”  

wing band

 
Linda (Office Manager): Style 516 – “The large paw print tag is my favorite because it reminds me of my three basset hounds. The new turquoise color is also my favorite color that we offer.”  

paw print dog tag

 
Kim (Sales Representative): Style 265 – “I like the small dog bone, style 265, instead of the two larger dog bone styles because it is petite and dainty.”  

bone dog tag

 
Fred (VP of Operations): Style 14 – “Barcoded 14’s [Rectangle with rounded edges] are my favorite tags because 14’s are versatile, and come in different sizes. The barcode also makes it high tech.”  

barcoded rectangle tag

 
Chris (Sales Manager): Style 173 – “I like the fun fire hydrant shaped tags. We have four sizes to choose from but I think the largest one, style 173 is the best because you can fit the most information on it.”  

fire plug dog tag

 
Eddie (Poultry Department Manager): Style 893B – “The 893B is my favorite tag because it is the only brass wing band that we make. They are different from what my department normally produces.”  

brass wing band

 
Katie (Office Assistance): Style 515 – “The small paw print is my favorite because it’s cute and can fit on both dogs and cats.”  

cat paw print tag

 
Sallie (Hasco Consultant): Style 440 – “I love hearts in general, but the 440 is my favorite because it is the one we brought over from Hasco.”  

heart shaped dog tag

 

Atlas Seal – Our Most Popular Adjustable Leg Bands!

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The Atlas Seal 305A and 305AL are top sellers amongst adjustable leg bands because of the flexible sizes they can adjust to, the variety of colors they are available in, and the secure rivet that closes them. These leg bands are great for multiple species of birds, especially popular for poultry.

305A-305AL atlas seal adjustable leg band

Material: .020 Aluminum

Stamping and Numbering:
Standard stamping is up to a 6 digit embossed consecutive number. Special stamping is available (for example names and phone numbers).

Use the boxes below to find out how much stamping you can fit on your band. One box equals one character. Staying inside the green is a $10 set up charge, and if your stamping goes into the orange boxes, it will be a $20 set up charge. Stamping will be made as large as possible. (Stamping based on a 4 digit number). For tag pricing and other special charges, Click Here.

305A:

305A stamping limits

305AL:

305AL stamping limits

The 305S applicator is required to seal the rivet.

Our Available Colors:

anodized adjustable leg band colors

enamel leg band colors atlas seal

**** Colors may vary based on material available****
Please note: enamel colors will last, while anodized may scratch

New! Shorter Bird Band Height

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Do you use our 1242 Size 22 butt-end bird bands? You may be interested to know that we’ve created a new shorter version of the same band–Style 1242-22Z. For birds that have shorter legs, this band might be just what you need. It is the same price and inside/outside diameter as the original 1242-22, just 1/8″ shorter.

short bird band

Interested in a sample? Ready to order? Call us! 859-261-2035

 

The Bird is the Word

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We love seeing pictures from customers of our tags in use, which is why #BirdBanding is one of NB&T’s favorite hashtags on Twitter! We saw lots of tweets this past year of people sharing their bird banding adventures, whether it be collecting data for research, educating others about birds or sharing their banding accomplishments. After going through old tweets, we narrowed it down to NB&T’s top 10 favorite bird banding tweets from 2016!

 

10.) Check out the yellow on this Warbler’s belly! This is also a great demonstration of a bird bander’s hold.

tweet 10
9.) How could we not love this awesome pictures showing the wide berth of sizes that we offer, all about to go into action on multiples species?

tweet 9
8.) Bands are used often for tracking purposes, epically in migratory birds like geese! This is a great shot of the applicator being used to put the band on.

tweet 8

7.) Another use of bands is to label the hatch year, or the year they were born, to help track age down the road.

tweet 7
6.) It’s a huge accomplishment getting your first Peregrine Falcon! This bird of prey is the fastest bird in the world with the highest recorded speed being over 200 MPH.

tweet 6
5.) We always enjoy when people find their jobs to be fun! And cranking out 150 banded geese is impressive.

tweet 5

4.) We get to see lots of pictures of smaller birds, ducks and geese banded, so this Green Heron is quite the treat!

tweet 4
3.) Look at those little feet indeed! This is a great example of a band on a string versus the band on the actual bird. Thanks PA Deer Research for all your great pictures.

tweet 3
2.) We always enjoy when children get to learn about birds and other wildlife. Getting to hear the heart rate of a bird is quite the opportunity!

tweet 2
1.) The US Fish and Wildlife tweeted a blog post that is extremely informational about bird banding. How it works, the history of it, the oldest banded bird, reporting found bands and information on how you too can become a bander. https://www.fws.gov/news/blog/index.cfm/2016/9/6/Birdbanding

tweet 1

 

Don’t forget to follow National Band & Tag on Twitter!

Happy Thanksgiving — It’s Turkey Time!

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turkey band

Banding a Turkey

Thanksgiving is tomorrow! What better way to celebrate than by sharing an article on wild turkey banding? This article by the NWTF California Chapter details their research from when Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area (UBBWA) Manager Tim Hermansen, and Environmental Scientist Laura Cockrell teamed up with NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation) with the hope of creating a spring turkey hunt at UBBWA.

The spring turkey hunt at UBBWA was approved and started in the Spring of 2015.  UBBWA and NWTF researchers planned to use the hunt to study turkey populations in the area, and make sure that the hunt wouldn’t negatively affect populations in the future. To begin their study though, they had to catch and band as many wild turkeys as possible. The return on leg bands from hunter-harvested birds is the data they would need to complete their study.

To band the turkeys, specific areas were first baited over several weeks, once a large group of turkeys was in the area, a large net was then fired out of a compressed air cannon to catch the turkeys. Researchers and volunteers then untangled the birds from the net and placed them in individual boxes. Each turkey was then processed, which included measurements of age, sex, weight, wing length, tarsal length, beard length, and spur length. They were then banded, with each band having a unique number assigned to each turkey.

Overall, their project has been quite successful. The team captured a total of 21 wild turkeys and banded them in 2015. In 2016, they captured and banded 28 turkeys.  So far, only one banded bird has been harvested and reported.

Read the full article and see more pictures here: http://www.nwtfcalifornia.com/nwtf-dollars-work-ubbwa/

Replica Bands and Custom Bird Bands

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replica bird bands

Replica Bird Bands

Did you know that we make replica bird bands and custom bird bands? We make band sizes all the way from a humming bird to a tundra swan. We offer standard NB&T Size bird bands, or for an additional fee you can get a Federal Size band.

To order a Replica Band, we need a copy of your Certificate of Appreciation from the USGS. After we receive your copy of the certificate and your order, we will confirm it with the USGS and then produce your order. Please call for a quote on Replica Bands.

For custom bands we can stamp almost anything you want on it, including names, dates, logos and more. We’ve done bands that say “marry me”, ones used as business cards, and memorial bands for loved ones. We offer plain aluminum bands or to match your event or business colors, we have colored aluminum in: Plain, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Gold, Purple, Black, White and our newest color, Turquoise!

View all of our band sizes, colors, materials and pricing Here!

Our Favorite Tags

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Here at NB&T we have hundreds of styles of tags to choose from, so we asked some of our family members and employees, “what is your favorite tag style and why?”

 

1-1/4" round tag with barcodeFaye (President): Style 137 – “The 1-1/4” inch circle is my favorite because it has so many uses and is a top seller. It is used across multiple product categories such as rabies tags, industrial tags and tree tags.
butt-end bandsBillie (Sales Representative): Style 1242 – “The Butt-End Bands are my favorite because they can be used for other things besides leg bands for waterfowl, such as wire markers, jewelry, and business cards.”
dog bone tagAndi (Graphics & Web Manager): Style 165 – “The large dog bone is my favorite because it is on my dog and I get to see it every day!”
black tree tagKevin (Laser Etching Manager): Style 14 ­– “The rectangle with rounded edges is one of my favorite because it can go on almost anything and it can vary in size to fit customer’s needs. I also get to laser etch this style a lot.”
sea turtle tag - 681ICAnne Marie (Bilingual Sales Representative): Style 681IC – “The sea turtle tag is my favorite because it is strong and can last in harsh environments like saltwater. I also like supporting sea turtle conservation.”
millenium falcon tagAlex (IT): Style 148 – “It looks like the Millennium Falcon.”
rat tagKelsey (Sales Representative):  Style 503 – “The mouse-shaped tag is my favorite because it reminds me of my pet rat.”
apron tagSarah (Sales Representative): Style 2351AT – “The plastic apron tags are my new favorite because they are new and exciting product line. They are different from other tags we do and I like working with them.”
small animal ear tagsPablo (Shipping): Style 1005-1 – “The small animal ear tag is my favorite because it is something I pack, ship and handle every day.”
heart tagAli (Marketing Specialist): Style 398 – “This is my favorite of the seven heart shapes because it looks the most like a heart and it is versatile. It can be a pet tag, promotional tag, used for weddings, and more.”

Migratory Bird Treaty

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August 16, 2016 marks the centennial (100th year) of the Convention between the United States and Great Britain (for Canada) for the Protection of Migratory Birds – known as the Migratory Bird Treaty. Three other treaties were signed shortly thereafter with Japan, Russia and Mexico. The Migratory Bird Treaty, the three additional treaties and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act are the cornerstones of efforts to conserve birds that migrate across international borders.

migratory bird treaty logoThis act makes it illegal for anyone to take, possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, purchase, or barter, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such a bird except under the terms of a valid permit issued pursuant to Federal regulations.

Many of these migratory birds may be found wearing one of National Band’s bird bands. We produce a wide variety of styles, sizes, and colors to accommodate the tracking of these migratory birds.

Centennial Campaign Goals:

Create awareness about the importance of migratory bird conservation by encouraging news media stories about treaty achievements, migratory birds, and habitat conservation, and connecting people to migratory bird conservation via social media.

Promote key actions that anyone can take to help birds. This includes participating in citizen science programs such as bird counts; expanding property and homeowner use of bird-friendly practices such as lights out programs, reducing collisions, and maintaining wildlife-friendly gardens; and increasing sales of the Federal Duck Stamp, which protects habitat for migratory birds.

Increase support for migratory bird conservation programs and initiatives by strengthening national and international partnerships and increasing knowledge and understanding of key legislation for migratory birds.

Expand opportunities for engagement in activities such as bird watching, hunting, and conservation, including bird-focused programs and festivals.

To learn more about the Migratory Bird Treaty Act check out:

https://www.fws.gov/birds/mbtreaty100/