tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410615559824660051.post5009833305835822600..comments2023-10-18T05:31:21.249-07:00Comments on Peregrinations: Bird BanderRick Gerhardthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478878021692544533noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410615559824660051.post-36977803321453888532007-03-19T17:27:00.000-07:002007-03-19T17:27:00.000-07:00Hey Ben:Yes, folks who want to identify individual...Hey Ben:<BR/><BR/>Yes, folks who want to identify individual Turkey Vultures generally use patagial (wing)markers. These are actually much more visible (than leg bands) and readable (they usually include a combination of letter and number that is unique, making identification of the individual possible) at quite a distance.Rick Gerhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10478878021692544533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410615559824660051.post-18780437648021974632007-03-19T07:01:00.000-07:002007-03-19T07:01:00.000-07:00Hey Uncle Rick, I had no idea about the Turkey Vul...Hey Uncle Rick, I had no idea about the Turkey Vulture's "specialized" cooling method. Rather humorous though. It's also interesting they do this in hot weather, since producing a more solidified feces would conserve water within the body, right? Is there another method researchers track them?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410615559824660051.post-78731889012445313182007-03-16T11:42:00.000-07:002007-03-16T11:42:00.000-07:00Rick, perhaps you can write a little post about ro...Rick, perhaps you can write a little post about robins. I really have quite a time with robins, especially around the time they begin to build nests (April/May). There seems no way I can discourage them from building nests beneath my deck other than by getting my bb gun out. And even then they come back and rebuild after I've scared them away. They are the most tenacious creatures I've ever come across. If I knock down their nests, they are right back building a new one within hours. If I leave for a few days during this period, I come back to a bunch of new nests. It seems that a group of males bring materials for a nest to the female, who builds it. Even when there's not a female around, the males will continue bringing the nesting materials, which of course create a mess everywhere. What can I do to get rid of these birds?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410615559824660051.post-76782523760719759742007-03-15T08:53:00.000-07:002007-03-15T08:53:00.000-07:00Hi Tori:No, tarsal bands are used because they hav...Hi Tori:<BR/><BR/>No, tarsal bands are used because they have been determined to have no effect on the bird. There are a wide range of sizes, and the exact size of band appropriate to each species is well-established. A proper-sized band spins freely around the bird's leg, but does not slip up or down over the joint above or the foot below.<BR/><BR/>There are a very few species for which leg bands are not used. Turkey Vultures (the subject of a recent post on my blog) cannot wear a band for a rather unusual reason. These birds defecate (a rather liguid feces) on their own legs (apparently especially in hot weather and then as a way of cooling themselves). This feces was shown to solidify in and around a leg band to the point that it restricted blood flow and caused necrosis. As a result, it is illegal to use leg bands on Turkey Vultures.Rick Gerhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10478878021692544533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410615559824660051.post-37236527212305867132007-03-14T22:50:00.000-07:002007-03-14T22:50:00.000-07:00I've always wondered if that kind of thing hurts t...I've always wondered if that kind of thing hurts the animals?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com