Abstract
Marking birds for recognition at a distance poses special problems due to small body size, delicate plumage and the possibility of affecting flight. In many species, colours and plumage features are important in recognition and display, which may be disrupted by additional markers. Tarsal ringing (Spencer, chapter 5) has been used very successfully for many years on large numbers of birds, and other marking methods should be considered only when research would be unduly hampered by the limitations of ringing. The chief drawback of tarsal marking is that the legs of many species are hidden for much of the time—when they are swimming, in long vegetation, or in flight—and this has led to attempts to mark birds higher on the body. This chapter reviews the main methods used, concentrating on factors affecting the choice of the best marker for a particular study, and dealing with the materials used, the means of attachment, visibility, durability and any reported effects of the marker on the bird. Only a few key references to each method are given, since a recent bibliography (Marion and Shamis, 1977) lists the species on which each marker has been used and gives an exhaustive list of papers which can be consulted for details of the construction of markers and the techniques for attachment.
Dr Ian Patterson is a graduate of Aberdeen (BSc) and Oxford (DPhil). His research degree study was on the social organisation of colonies of Black-headed gulls and the function of nesting in a colony. After two years as a research fellow working on social behaviour, dispersion and populations of the Rook at Aberdeen University, he was appointed to his present post there of Lecturer in Zoology. Since 1970 his research has been on social behaviour and limitation of population size in Shelducks.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Anderson, A. (1963). Patagial tags for waterfowl. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 27, 284–288.
Ankney, C.D. (1975). Neck bands contribute to starvation in female Lasser snow geese. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 39, 825–826.
Ballou, R.M. and Martin, F.W. (1964). Rigid plastic collars for marking geese. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 28, 846–847.
Bartonek, J.C. and Dane, C.W. (1964). Numbered nasal discs for waterfowl. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 28, 688–692.
Blank, T.H. and Ash, J.S. (1956). Marker for game birds. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 29, 328–330.
Boag, D.A., Watson, A. and Parr, R. (1973). Radio-marking vs back tabbing Red grouse. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 37, 410–412.
Boyd, H. (1951). Notes on colour marking of Geese. Wildfowl. Severn Wildfowl Trust Annual Report 1950–51, 14–16.
Craighead, J.J. and Stockstad, D.S. (1956). A colored neckband for marking birds. J. Wild!. Mgmt, 20, 331–332.
Ellis, D.H. and Ellis, C.H. (1975). Color marking Golden eagles with human hair dyes. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 39 (2), 446–447.
Evans, C.D. (1951). A method of color-marking young waterfowl. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 15, 101–103.
Fjetland, C.A. (1973). Long-term retention of plastic collars on Canada geese. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 37, 176–178.
Goforth, W.R. and Baskett, T.S. (1965). Effects of experimental color marking on pairing of captive Mourning doves. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 29, 543–553.
Gullion, G.W. (1951). A marker for waterfowl. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 15, 222–223.
Gullion, G.W., Eng, R.L. and Kupa, J.J. (1962). Three methods for individually marking Ruffed grouse. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 26, 404–407.
Hansen, C.G. (1964). A dye spraying device for marking desert Bighorn sheep. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 28, 584–587.
Helm, L.G. (1955). Plastic collars for marking geese. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 19, 316–317.
Hester, A.E. (1963). A plastic wing tag for individual identification of passerine birds. Bird-Banding, 34, 213–217.
Hewitt, O.H. and Austin-Smith, P.J. (1966). A simple wing tag for field-marking birds. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 30, 625–627.
Knowlton, F.F., Michael, E.D. and Glazener, W.C. (1964). A marking technique for field recognition of individual turkey and deer. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 28, 167–170.
Labisky, R.F. and Mann, S.H. (1962). Back tag markers for Pheasants. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 26, 393–399.
Lensink, C.J. (1968). Neckbands as an inhibitor of reproduction in Black Brant. J. Wildl. Mgmt., 32, 418–420.
Maclnnes, C.D., Prevett, J.P. and Edney, H.A. (1969). A versatile collar for individual identification of Geese. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 33, 330–335.
Marion, W.R. and Shamis, J.D. (1977). An annotated bibliography of bird marking techniques. Bird-Banding, 48 (1), 42–61.
Noble, G.K. (1963). Courtship and sexual selection of the Flicker (Colaptes auratus luteus). Auk, 53 (3), 269–282.
Raveling, D.G. (1976). Do neckbands contribute to starvation of Lesser snow geese? J. Wildl. Mgmt, 41, 571–572.
Sherwood, G.A. (1966). Flexible plastic collars compared to nasal discs for marking geese. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 30, 853–855.
Sladen, W.J.L. (1973). A continental study of Whistling Swans using neck collars, Wildfowl, 24, 8–14.
Sugden, L.G. and Poston, H.J. (1968). A nasal marker for ducks. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 32, 984–986.
Swank, W.G. (1952). Trapping and marking of adult nesting doves. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 16, 87–90.
Taber, R.D. (1949). A new marker for game birds. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 13, 228–231.
Wright, E.G. (1939). Marking birds by imping feathers. J. Wildl. Mgmt, 3, 238–239.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1978 The Contributors
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Patterson, I.J. (1978). Tags and other distant-recognition markers for birds. In: Stonehouse, B. (eds) Animal Marking. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-03711-7_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-03711-7_6
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-03713-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-03711-7
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)