Pigeon tagging, often called banding or ringing, is a widespread practice. These small markers, typically on a pigeon’s leg, serve as unique identifiers. A tag signifies a bird’s connection to human activity, from hobbyist pursuits to scientific endeavors. Understanding these tags offers insights into a pigeon’s life and purpose.
Purposes of Pigeon Tagging
Tagging pigeons serves several distinct purposes, primarily identification, tracking, and data collection. For pigeon racing, tags help identify individual birds and their owners, allowing performance tracking and determining race winners. Owners also use bands for general identification, ensuring they can be returned if lost.
Beyond competitive sports, tagging plays a significant role in scientific research. Ornithologists and researchers use bands to study pigeon populations, monitor their movements, and understand their behavior. This includes gathering data on longevity, dispersal patterns, and population dynamics, contributing to broader avian research and conservation efforts. By recording details such as age, weight, and health at banding, scientists can build comprehensive databases to analyze trends over time.
Types of Tags and Their Details
Pigeon tags typically come as leg bands, most commonly made from aluminum or plastic. These are often “closed rings,” applied when the pigeon is a nestling and cannot be removed without cutting, ensuring permanent identification. “Open” bands can be placed on adult birds, though they are less common for official registration.
The information inscribed on these bands is crucial for identification, usually including a series of letters and numbers. This often consists of an organization code (such as “AU” for American Racing Pigeon Union or “NPA” for National Pigeon Association), the year the bird was hatched and banded, a club code, and a unique serial number. Some bands might also include contact information like a phone number or website, particularly for pet pigeons or smaller organizations. Scientific studies might also use colored leg bands, wing tags, or small, lightweight tracking devices to gather more specific data on movement and behavior.
What to Do If You Find a Tagged Pigeon
If you encounter a tagged pigeon, your actions depend on the bird’s condition. If the pigeon appears healthy and active, it is likely a racing or homing pigeon resting before continuing its journey. In such cases, the bird often needs only a brief period of rest, food, and water before it can resume its flight home. Providing water in a shallow dish and birdseed or popcorn can be helpful.
If the pigeon seems injured, distressed, or unable to fly, intervention may be necessary. Carefully approach the bird and check the leg band for information. Note down the full series of letters and numbers.
You can then contact a national pigeon organization, such as the American Racing Pigeon Union (AU) or the National Pigeon Association (NPA), providing the full band number to help trace the owner. For bands issued by scientific programs, particularly metal bands with “WWW.REPORTBAND.GOV” or “WRITE BIRD BAND LAUREL MD” inscriptions, report the information to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL).
Handle the bird gently and avoid attempting to remove the tag, as this could cause injury. If injured, contacting a local animal rescue or wildlife rehabilitation center is also an appropriate step.