Duck Banding, Part 2

Last blog I wrote about our duck banding operation. To recap, the ducks are lured into wire traps using barley as bait. Each morning, we go out to the traps and transfer the ducks into a cage and then bring them back to shore for identification and banding. Here is a picture of a trap, with Dean (Refuge Biotech) and I getting ready to retrieve ducks.

With a cage full of ducks back on shore, we take a duck out of the cage and begin the process of identifying species, sex and age. 

Dean with a Pintail

Identifying the species is pretty straightforward, but sex and age are tougher.This time of year the ducks are molting, so males and females look very similar. As far as age goes, we need to determine if they are "Hatch Year" (born this year) or "After Hatch Year" (at least one year old).

We use several field marks to determine sex and age.  We look first at eye color (for Cinnamon Teal) and bill color (Mallards).  These give us an idea of male/female, but are not conclusive.  We then look at the tail feathers. If the tips are notched it is usually a Hatch Year bird, but with feather wear this (again) is not conclusive.

This big duck is a Mallard, and the yellow/green bill tells us that it is most likely a male.  Females have orange bills. 

We extend a wing to look at patterns and compare them with a book that shows wings of each species broken down by male/female and hatch year/after hatch year.  This, along with the field marks mentioned above usually get us close.

This is a male Cinnamon Teal.  The red eye and wing pattern help to confirm this.  Since he is in eclipse plumage (molting) he lacks the trademark cinnamon color.  But he still has his honkin' big bill!!

But the final determination is made by "venting" the bird.  That is examining the genetalia to make the final determination of sex, and in many cases, age. To do this we flip the bird upside down, gently spread the vent, and look for the sex organs.  Since the vent serves several purposes this is also a good way to get pooped on!!

Flipping the bird over so that I can vent it to determine sex and age.

The indignity of it all.  I'm not sure who is more uncomfortable here, me or the duck!!

Once the identification is finished, it is time to put on the band. Check out Part 3 in a couple of days to see how the bands are placed.

Mark