This plover was banded at Western Sand & Gravel mine in Nebraska. It is an adult male, captured in 2015.
Note: the bird's legs are labeled right (R) and left (L). This indicates the bird's right and the bird's left as it stands facing you, the viewer.
Record your banding combinations in your field journal. Click the icon to download and print, then go to the next tab.
Drag the correct USGS metal band onto the bird’s upper leg. Age determines placement. For adult birds, place on upper left leg. For chicks, place on upper right leg.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS marker) is a metal band with a nine-digit number that is entered into a federal database. This number is unique and individually marks the bird.
Determine where the bird was banded. Select the colored flag that matches that region. Drag the correct flag onto bird’s upper leg (opposite metal band).
Sex is determined for adult birds only. Drag the correct color band onto the top position on the lower right leg.
Determine the year the bird was banded. Drag the correct color band onto the top position on the lower left leg. It is the top color, below the metal band.
Determine specific site the bird was captured and banded. Drag the correct color band onto the bottom position on the lower right leg.
Describe site type. Was it a housing development, sand and gravel mine or sandbar? Drag the correct color band onto the bottom position on the lower left leg.
Use the drop down arrows to select your band and flag combinations. If you can't see the USGS#, zoom in by clicking on the binoculars.
Study the band combination on the bird’s legs below. Select the Piping Plover profile on the right that best matches the banding combination. If needed, refer back to the Banding Toolbox for colors. Band positions are listed below
Your partner has spotted a bird through her binoculars and shouted out the color bands on the legs. Here's what you wrote down quickly.
Which bird could this be? Hint: draw a pair of legs and label them with the correct bands to help figure out which Plover has been spotted. Then choose the correct answer on the right.