During a previous discussion about banding in August 2011, this same quesion
about the lack of old flags was raised, and I asked if someone could explain
it. I received this reply:
"Darvic the plastic used for flags has a long life span and is not meant to
fade but in reality it does over time but we are talking 10 plus years in most
cases. There was also a batch of yellow that was slightly paler than what we
were using in the past but that again was quite a few years ago."
It doesn't explain the drop in Sanderling numbers discussed, but it does
explain why few have flags that look old.
Peter Shute
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> On Behalf Of Ian May
> Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013 11:22 AM
> To:
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Another bivalve victim (moderated)
>
> For many years from the mid 1960's Sanderling could be
> observed in SE South Australia sometimes in flocks more than
> 700. Suddenly flagging started and it was not unusual to see
> dozens or more; flagged birds trailing the main flock
> struggling to run up and down the beach following the waves.
> Where the local population remained constant for at least 20
> years while dodging domestic dogs and 4WDs and beach
> fisherman, within a few years of the first flagging
> exercises, the local population crashed to below 400 and is
> still diminishing The alarming fact is that we rarely see
> any Sanderling in the area with old flags
> returning. Where are they?
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