I have a good friend in northern Indiana who is an absolute duck- and goose-hunting nut. Now in his mid-sixties, he has spent an entire life guiding and hunting waterfowl of all types from Canada to Mexico.

Among one of his prized collections is a large Mason jar containing hundreds of bands taken from waterfowl over the year. As a devoted waterfowl hunter, he has reported every banded bird he has taken throughout his entire life.

Reporting any banded bird is important, whether waterfowl or any other migratory species. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asks hunters and anyone else who comes across banded Canada geese, mourning doves or wood ducks to report the information on the band to the National Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL). Reports can be filed by calling 800-327-BAND or online at www.reportband.gov

The data collected are compiled by the BBL and sent to program participants twice a year. “It is important that hunters and others report any bird bands they recover,” said DNR waterfowl biologist Adam Phelps. “Goose-banding data are used heavily by biologists, particularly in efforts to improve hunter opportunity.”

Band returns gave the DNR much of the data that supported the case to abolish the SJBP hunting zone in Indiana, and indicate how well the February seasons target urban geese, as well as other important information.

“When we band geese, we attach an aluminum band to one leg,” Phelps said. Since each band has a unique number on it, biologists can identify each bird, if it is captured again or harvested by a hunter.

“When we put a band on a bird, we have a point on a map where we know that bird has been,” Phelps said. “That bird may be caught again next year, or harvested by a hunter, or hit by a car or a birder may read the band number through binoculars.

“As long as that person reports the band, we now have another point on a map for that bird. Two points give us a line. With thousands of such lines, we can develop movement patterns for these geese.”

Indiana’s breeding geese move around much more than most people think. Birds banded in June in Indiana have been harvested by hunters from Idaho to Delaware, and from the Hudson Bay in Canada to Alabama. Bird banding provides more than information on movement patterns: With enough reported bands, biologists can determine survival rates and harvest rates (the rate at which certain area geese are taken by hunters).

Phelps is currently analyzing goose-banding data from 1986-2007, which suggest hunters take a high proportion of geese relocated from urban areas to Fish and Wildlife Areas (FWAs). This is important information because it means a strategy of moving birds from places where they conflict with humans to fish and wildlife areas is likely to be an effective strategy for reducing the populations.

Personnel from the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife placed leg bands on 4,474 Canada geese this summer, surpassing the previous record of 3,656 geese banded during 2008.

In addition to standard aluminum leg bands, the DNR also attaches plastic leg bands to Canada geese relocated from urban areas to FWAs. The bands are much more noticeable from a distance, and help determine rates at which the birds return to conflict situations.
Data from all three banded game bird species are used not just at the state level, but also are combined with data from other states to provide a larger-scale picture of migration and survival rates. Indiana also uses banding data from other states to determine which portions of the Canada goose harvest occurring in Indiana originated in other states and Canadian provinces.

In addition to the banding the Indiana DNR does, other states, provinces and the federal governments of the United States and Canada band many other species of birds, including mallards and other ducks, woodcock and many species of songbird. Reporting any of the recovered birds’ bands is important to the management of the species as well.

Because the species are migratory, jurisdiction for their management lies with the federal government. The BBL, a federal agency within the U.S. Geological Survey, is responsible for the management of all migratory bird banding in the U.S.

Roush Lake adds electric
to 25 campsites

Edward R. Roush Lake has available for reservation 25 campsites offering electrical hookups at the Kil-So-Quah State Recreation Area.

“It is great for the DNR and Roush Lake to be able to provide a service for our campers that they have been asking for,” said Jeff Reed, property manager.

Roush Lake partnered with Duke Energy, which provided the transformers and upgrades at no cost. Roush Lake also offers several miles of hiking and mountain bike trails, shelter houses, boat rentals, swimming, picnic areas, archery and shooting ranges, fishing and wildlife viewing.

Camping rates for the electric sites are: Sunday-Wednesday, $9.53 plus tax; Thursday-Saturday, $12.39 plus tax; and holidays, $15.25 plus tax.

For questions about camping at Roush Lake, call 260-468-2165. To make campground or shelter reservations, call 866-622-6746 or go online at www.CAMP.IN.gov

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments may contact Jack Spaulding by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.