[EBB Sightings] Fwd: Request for banded Purple Martin sighting reports

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>From: "Kelsey Low" 
>Subject: Request for banded Purple Martin sighting reports
>Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 10:25:53 -0500
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>I work for the BC Purple Martin Stewardship and Recovery Program, an 
>organization concerned with the conservation of Purple Martins 
>(Progne subis) in British Columbia, Canada. For the past 10 years we 
>have banded most of the Martin nestlings born in BC every summer. 
>Despite all the banding work we have done over the past decade, we 
>still don't know much about west coast migration. There have been 
>some banded BC birds (including a few hatching year birds) seen at 
>still-occupied colony sites in WA in late summer, plus a few early 
>fledged young. Apart from that and a couple of coastal sightings in 
>OR and northern CA, they just seem to disappear - my guess is they 
>are mostly tree-roosting and not visiting colony sites in migration. 
>Even with the numbers this year there are only about 3000 BC birds 
>(~2700 banded remaining from all years) plus another 4000 from WA 
>(~600 banded) heading south, spread over several weeks. Western 
>Purple Martins probably migrate through the western states, Mexico, 
>and into South America (possibly to Brazil), but we need band 
>recovery data to confirm that. Is it possible for us to post a 
>notice on your mailing list asking for reports of banded Martins?
>We are interested in any information people can give us about the 
>birds, though our main concern is band data. If someone sees a 
>banded Martin, we would like to know if the bird was alive or dead 
>when sighted, and if possible the gender and general age (SY or 
>ASY). For identification we need: the full number-letter code of the 
>coloured leg band (which can be read at close range with a spotting 
>scope), the band colour and which leg it was on, and/or the number 
>of the silver aluminum federal band if the bird is captured or found 
>dead. Partial information for colour band sightings (colour, leg, 
>partial code) is also useful but may not allow full identification. 
>The coloured bands we have used are red, white, orange, or yellow 
>plastic, and gold or blue metal. The plastic bands have a number up 
>to three digits, while the metal bands have a "BC" prefix, a three 
>digit number, and a letter. Birds banded in Washington State have 
>similar metal bands (orange or green) with a "WA" prefix, a letter, 
>and a three digit number.
>Any information about communal roosting sites, numbers of birds 
>seen, or dates when migrating Purple Martins passed through would 
>also be appreciated. Of course, all reports should include the date 
>and location of the sighting, and some personal contact information 
>(email, address, etc.). Reports can be in English or Spanish, and 
>can be sent by email to:
><'"http://by107fd.bay107.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?curmbox=D3808E82-7544-4EBE-903A-6D099ABEB79C&a=f5dd308bec331987d7bffe2356d50305401f81c9c5023ffdffd3bbbfddb55955&mailto=1&to=pmartin_bands at georgiabasin.ca&msg=F1F24078-8A33-4BA1-BBDB-E2C948004549&star>pmartin_bands at georgiabasin.ca
>Or by regular mail to:
>GBEARS
>133 - 4176A Departure Bay Road
>Nanaimo, BC, Canada
>V9T 4V7
>Our phone number is:
>(250) 758-2922
>Thank you,
>- Kelsey Low