Recovering Two Banded Tern

Banded Royal Terns at Oistins

Bird banding is a tool used by ornithologists, researchers, and conservationists alike to acquire accurate information about bird movement, life span, and much more. That data can then be used to make informed decisions and recommendations for the betterment of a species. So it is important to report resightings to websites like bandedbirds.org or The North American Bird Banding Program.

Close to 25 species of foreign banded birds have been recovered on the island from stations in the Americas and Europe. For the last few years, birds reported were mainly shorebirds but two recent recoveries of Royal Terns (Thalasseus Maximus) bands reminded us of our history.  

Banded Royal tern #0884-18508

The first, tagged #0884-18508, was seen at Heywood Beach, St. Peter by Carla Daniel of The Barbados Sea Turtle Project.  The bird was in bad shape and subsequently died.  Carla was able to report the band to The North American Bird Banding Program.  She learned the bird was banded as a chick on July 9th, 2005, in Maryland, making it 17 years of age.

Banded Royal tern #1024-29229 C92

The second tern was much younger. It was seen and photographed at the Oistins,  ice jetty on June 29th. This tern, tagged 1024-29229 C92,  was also banded as a chick before it was able to fly, near Hampton City, Virginia, US, on July 10th, 2021.  C92 was quite healthy and the sighting was reported to The North American Bird Banding Program.

Yes, bird banding is an important tool, but to be effective it needs resighters like you and I. So please be on the lookout for birds with bands and report them to one of the above websites.  

Stay safe and enjoy your birding!