BAND RACK

Every year the bands are received on a string with a knot tied on the first and last. It was a bit of a problem to untie the knot to remove them from the string without dropping some. Once I was distracted by a young bird flying to my shoulder and with out thinking I let go of the end of the string and bands when I reached up for the bird. The next thing I knew I had bands all over the floor. After picking them up, putting them  back in numerical sequence it was decided to find another way. I went to the hardware store where Five 1/4" x 6" eye bolts were purchased at a cost of $1.09 each.

Our club has two special young bird races each year. One is called the "No 1", the other the "Gold Band". Only two bands can be designated for the No. 1 race, as many as wanted for the gold band. I designate 10 gold bands. Naturally these twelve bands go on youngsters from breeders that I think will produce the best. Each bolt will handle 13 bands. It's no problem to count down as many bands on the string as wanted on each bolt. Then the bolt is inserted from the highest numbered band to the lowest. This places the lowest number next to the nut.

It works great for me, no more trying to untie the knot with cold hands when winter breeding and keeping the unused bands on the string.

Another way is to cut a wire coat hanger, reshape it and bend a hook on one end to form a large safety pin. The wire has enough spring that the straight end will be retained by the hook and hold about 80 bands.

This was made with the suggestion of Phillip Stireman.
If your new to the sport and not sure when and how to band a baby the following should help.
Usually I band at about 8-9 days old. Occasionally a bird can be banded a day sooner if the foot grows faster. If the band will go over the four toes together easily it's to soon to band. Banding early can result in the band coming off or the parents removing the band. It is a foreign object and they will try to remove it. If they do it will be carried out of the nest and the chances are it will not be found. I have made that mistake and couldn't find the band after.

To band the birds a couple days older have a lubricant available to help slide the band over the foot, Vaseline or Noxzema works well. Slide the band over the three first toes leaving the fourth toe behind.  The fourth toe will be bent backwards inside of the band and is not painful to the bird. Push the band back so that the joint of the toe is visible where it joints the foot.
 
 
 


Gently insert the pointed object in the space between the toe and foot. A 1-1/2 screw hook with the the threads ground off and the point slightly ground so it's not sharp does the job for me. Prior to having the modified screw hook I used a 2" nail with a dull point. Pull the fourth toe through the band.
 
 
 


 

There the little guys is; 8 days old, banded and hopefully one day 2003 FCQ-QC-2298 will return home from a race in time to have it's band number on the results sheet.

The Alberta Classic site has a little movie on banding. Click here to go there.

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