A Goose With Two Bands?

January 31, 2019

Question: I am a Colorado resident, although I grew up in California and attended college at UC Santa Barbara. My degree is in Aquatic Biology and I am interested in the science behind waterfowl banding studies. I hunted waterfowl in California with my out-of-state license this past weekend and shot my first goose. It had two bands, one on each leg. I recorded my information on the federal U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Bird Banding Lab website and found out that it had been banded near Nuiqsut, Alaska. I made enchiladas out of it that night. Why the two bands? (Sam L., Westminster, Colorado)

Answer: Congratulations on your first goose – and a banded one at that! And thank you for coming all the way out to California to hunt here. California’s waterfowl hunting opportunities are a huge draw for out-of-state hunters. The band information you provided tells us that your goose was banded by one of our partners at the USGS-Alaska Science Center. Your goose is a lesser snow goose and was banded 2,500 miles away as the crow (well, actually, the goose) flies, from where you shot it.

Your goose had what we technically refer to as a band and a color marker. The band contains the number that tells us exactly when and where it was banded and by whom. The other band is the color marker. Many researchers use other auxiliary markers (color leg bands, neck collars, radio transmitters, flags and tags) along with federal bands to allow identification of a bird at a distance. To use any of these auxiliary markers, researchers need to have federal banding permits and additional marking authorization.

Thank you for reporting the data! Hunters are a critical element of our data collection efforts. Our waterfowl banding studies have been ongoing, in one form or another, for more than 100 years. As a biologist yourself, you are acutely aware of the importance of collecting all available data to improve the accuracy of their resource assessments. The principal investigator conducting the study involving your goose will be notified of your recovery and your data will contribute to important migration research.

We hope you enjoyed your goose enchiladas. Safe travels back to Colorado!