Philip et al,
The Australian Bird and Bat Banding Schemes, as Anthony has said, co-ordinates banding, including the use of colour bands in Australia. There have been several projects on rehabilitated birds undertaken in Australia and I think there was one done here in Canberra. The practice has been stopped because there was little returns of rehabilitated birds away from their release point. Indeed some banded rehab birds have made an absolute nuisance of themselves after they were released as I found out years ago. My neighbour caught a magpie in her yard and knowing I was banding in my backyard brought it over to me to band. This bird kept turning up all over northern Kaleen looking for handouts. It did disappear after a while and I have no idea what happened to it.
I know that the banding scheme will not approve any more rehabilitated bird banding projects.
Again as Anthony has said there is quite a distinct size difference in band sizes for several species of Australian (and some international migrant species), the Brown Goshawk is one of these. For those interested the male Collared Sparrowhawk takes a size 7, the female a size 8, the male Brown Goshawk takes a size 9 and the female a size 10. The size of the birds in the hand, even when caught individually, is quite obvious and distinct.
Cheers,
Mark
ACT Regional Organiser,
ABBBS
From: Philip Veerman [
Sent: Monday, 18 March 2013 2:49 PM
To: 'Anthony Overs'
Cc:
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Update on Goshawk: Is someone available to band this bird
Thanks for your insight. I don't know if RSPCA do or don't have any such project approval. I am not involved in the bureaucracy. Maybe I am just being sensible. I would have thought RSPCA would have gone through that approval process years ago, since they rehabilitate several birds. So I just assumed they would have project approval. I know the idea was being discussed under the old Wildlife Foundation at least approx 27 years ago and their work later went to the RSPCA (or that is what I think happened).
Or I was simply assuming that under someone else's banding licence, it would be covered, but that is a guess without thinking about it too closely. Of course any activity on banded birds should have coordination through the national scheme. I would have assumed that the simple act of banders submitting their log books would meet the requirements for that coordination. Or am I being too simplistic?
I expected the sexes would have different bands.
-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony Overs
Sent: Monday, 18 March 2013 2:14 PM
To: Philip Veerman
Cc: m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");">
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Update on Goshawk: Is someone available to band this bird
Unless the RSPCA has an approved project for banding birds, through the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme, the bird can't be banded. I'll talk to them about getting a project started. It concerns me that the RSPCA releases birds with bands that are not coordinated through the national scheme (e.g. the tawny frogmouth).
Size dimorphic species do take different size bands, e.g. goshawks, sparrowhawks, songlarks, button-quail.
Anthony
On 18 March 2013 13:54, Philip Veerman <m("pcug.org.au","pveerman");" target="_blank">> wrote:
I have been corresponding with Kym about this adult Brown Goshawk that Kym rescued, after it was tangled in barbed wire. It is at the RSPCA in Weston. I suggest that if one of our several local banders is available and brave enough to do so, could they go out to the RSPCA and band the bird before release. I'll leave any arrangements to anyone who wishes to be involved. Do male & female Brown Goshawks use different size leg bands? I don't know what sex it is.
-----Original Message-----From: kym bradley [mailto:m("hotmail.com","goldnbits");" target="_blank">] Sent: Monday, 18 March 2013 1:24 PM To: m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");" target="_blank">
Subject: [canberrabirds] Update on Goshawk
Rang the RSPCA just after 9.00 am the young lady said NO broken bones ( so pleased ) possible tendon damage should not be long before it can go back to the wild
The photo I forgot to add yesterday you can see the wire through it
The reason I took photos was to draw its attention whilst another covered the birds head we did not wish it freaking out and doing more damage it worked
