How to Report a Sighting of a Color Marked Bird

The more information that you can provide, the more likely the individual bird or marking project can be identified. Important information to send is:

• Size, shape, color of marker, color of codes, shape and placement of codes on the marker (a sketch can be more useful than a written description).
• Age of the bird, sex of the bird if available
• Date the bird was observed
• Exact location the bird was observed
• Your name, address, and preferably a daytime telephone number in case we have a question.

Report your sighting on our report page, or call your report in to 1-800-327-BAND (please do not use this number if you have live Canada Goose observations or several birds to report!), or FAX it to 301-497-5717 (use this for shorebirds, peregrine sightings etc. where the position of the flags or codes may be easier to draw than to describe on the telephone!); or email to BBL@usgs.gov.