Sandhill Crane, Image by Paul Miller
On November 3, 2022 Paul Miller photographed this Sandhill Crane at Cosumnes River Preserve. Incredibly he was able to identify the number on the band and submitted it to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory online. The bird was banded at Alturas Ranches in Modoc CA in 1986 making this bird 36 years old. Betty Cooper helped him reach out via email and he received this additional confirmation.
“That bird was marked by Modoc Refuge staff. The oldest crane I am aware of was banded by Rod Drewien and was last seen in the San Luis Valley at 40 years old.” Gary Ivey, Ph.D., Research Associate - Pacific Flyway Program - INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION.
If you notice a banded bird and are able to get the band numbers and band colors you can submit the information to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory at https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/bblretrv/.
Sandhill Crane, Image by Paul Miller
Sandhill Crane, Image by Paul Miller