Mystery solved...

I got an email back with info on the Sandhill Crane with leg bands. How exciting to get news like this.

Kathy;
Thank you so much for forwarding this observation on to us!  I remember this bird very well....
Our team from ICF was at Crex in the summer of 2007 banding chicks for a project by a colleague, Matt Hayes, who is currently working up his PhD at the UW-Madison. He is looking at the dispersal of Sandhills in the upper Midwest, and these birds were part of the genetic component of that question. So - the bands may look worn, but they are only 3 years old! That glorious brown mud that has stained the feathers of this bird has gotten the bands as well. I've attached a picture of one of these bands, how it SHOULD look!
When we found this family group on 14 July, just east of County Rd F north of the headquarters, it was well out into the wetland.  We thought we would try and sneak up on them anyway... well, our team ended up chasing that poor chick for a half hour before it was finally in hand! We quickly banded, measured, obtained a blood sample (it turned out to be a male) and released it to waiting parents. It is simply priceless to see evidence that it is not only alive and well, but likely near its natal area.  Could you provide coordinates or other description of where you observed this bird?  It may even be a paired, breeding bird. On that same trip we also caught birds in Amsterdam Slough and Fish Lake areas; All have the red number band, plus the one inch color/US Fish & Wildlife silver band combination. Do let us know if you happen to see more!
Such great information; thank you so much. 

Sincerely,

Anne Lacy
Long Term Crane Research Coordinator

International Crane Foundation
E-11376 Shady Lane Road   P.O. Box 447
Baraboo, WI 53913-0447 USA
608-356-9462 x146 / Fax: 608-356-9465

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