Marking and Banding 



Goslings hatched within the study areas were marked utilizing two 

 techniques. In 1975, eggs from selected clutches were injected with 

 colored dyes as described by Evans (1951) and McCabe (1975). In 1976, 

 37 young were marked with numbered web-tags as used by Forrest Lee (1975) 

 at the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. None of these web-tagged 

 birds were recaptured later during the free-banding operations. 



Canada geese were captured during the flightless period in 1975 and 

 1976 by the free-banding technique described by Hanson and Eberhardt (1971). 

 Modifications of their technique included use of one or two boats, from 

 three to seven banders, a dog, and a Piper Super Cub for aerial location of 

 the geese. Contact between the air and boats was accomplished with the use 

 of two-way radios. Goslings which appeared to be less than six weeks of 

 age were marked with standard aluminum leg bands and released. Captured 

 birds six weeks of age or older were marked with green-and-white neck bands 

 and aluminum leg bands (figure 3). (The green bands with white letters and 

 numerals are those assigned to Montana by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

 for neck-banding waterfowl.) 



Figure 3. Marking Canada Geese with plastic neck collars and standard 

 aluminum leg bands. 



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