Injury due to leg bands in willow flycatchers
Journal of Field Ornithology
By: J.A. Sedgwick and R.J. Klus
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Abstract
We report an apparently unusually high incidence of leg injury in Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii) as a result of banding and color banding. Color bands and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) bands applied to Willow Flycatchers from 1988-1995 resulted in an overall leg injury rate of 9.6% to birds returning to our study areas in subsequent years. Most injuries occurred on legs with only color band(s) (58.3%) or on legs with both a USFWS band and a color band (35%); only 6.7% of injuries (4/60) were due to USFWS bands alone, yielding an overall USFWS band injury rate of only 0.6%. Injuries ranged from severe (swollen, bleeding legs; a missing foot) to relatively minor (irritations on the tarsus). Amputation of the foot occurred in 33.9% of the cases. Return rates of adult injured birds in the year(s) following injury were significantly lower than for the population at large.
Suggested Citation
Sedgwick, J., and Klus, R., 1997, Injury due to leg bands in willow flycatchers: Journal of Field Ornithology, v. 68, no. 4, p. 622-629.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Injury due to leg bands in willow flycatchers |
| Series title | Journal of Field Ornithology |
| Volume | 68 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Year Published | 1997 |
| Language | English |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Journal of Field Ornithology |
| First page | 622 |
| Last page | 629 |