How Obtained Codes
These codes describe the circumstances surrounding the encounter of a bird or band. As requirements change, new codes are added or existing codes are discontinued or modified. Since data with the old codes are still in the files, analysts should be aware of the dates they were changed and their definitions.
| Code | Present Definition | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 00 | Found dead. | current |
| 01 | Shot. | current |
| 02 | * Caught or found dead due to: starvation | current |
| 03 | * Caught due to: injury | current |
| 04 | * Caught by or due to: traps or snares other than devices used to catch birds for banding. | current |
| 05 | Code discontinued. See code 31 | discontinued |
| 06 | * Caught by or due to: rodent | discontinued |
| 07 | * Caught by or due to: miscellaneous birds | discontinued |
| 08 | * Caught by or due to: shrike | discontinued |
| 09 | Caught by or due to: hawks, owls, or other raptors. | discontinued |
| 10 | Banding Mortality: due to trap, holding device, or handling. | current |
| 11 | * Caught by or due to: dog | discontinued |
| 12 | * Caught by or due to: cat | current |
| 13 | * Caught due to striking: stationary object other than wires or towers. | current |
| 14 | * Caught due to striking or being struck by: motor vehicle. | current |
| 15 | * Caught or found dead due to: weather conditions. | current |
| 16 | Collected as Scientific Specimen or captured for a Scientific Study. | current |
| 17 | Drowned. | current |
| 18 | * Caught or found dead due to disease: botulism | discontinued |
| 19 | Caught by or due to: reptile | discontinued |
| 20 | Caught due to disease. | discontinued |
| 21 | Bird caught or found dead in building or enclosure. | current |
| 22 | Code discontinued | discontinued |
| 23 | * Caught or found dead due to: oil or tar | current |
| 24 | * Caught or killed due to: fall from nest. | current |
| 25 | Caught or killed due to: Poisoning | discontinued |
| 26 | Caught by or due to: entanglement in fishing gear | current |
| 27 | * Caught by or found dead due to striking or being struck by: moving train. | current |
| 28 | Caught by hand. | current |
| 29 | Sight record: identified by color band, marked plumage or marker other than standard, numbered metal band. | current |
| 30 | Died in nest. | current |
| 31 | * Caught by or due to: miscellaneous animal. | discontinued |
| 32 | * Caught due to: parasite infestation | discontinued |
| 33 | Caught or observed at or in nest. | current |
| 34 | Caught or found dead due to: fish | discontinued |
| 35 | Code discontinued | discontinued |
| 36 | Caught due to: exhaustion | current |
| 37 | Code discontinued. | discontinued |
| 38 | Code discontinued. | discontinued |
| 39 | * Caught or found dead due to striking or being struck by: moving aircraft. | current |
| 40 | * Caught or found dead due to: Lead poisoning. | discontinued |
| 41 | Code discontinued. | discontinued |
| 42 | Caught due to striking or being struck by: moving farm machinery. | current |
| 43 | * Caught or found dead due to disease: trichomoniasis | discontinued |
| 44 | Caught or found dead due to: control operations (roost bombing, gassing, avicides, wetting agents, etc.) | current |
| 45 | Found dead or injured on highway. | current |
| 46 | Caught due to: joined flock of domestic or captive birds or fowl. | discontinued |
| 47 | Code discontinued. | discontinued |
| 48 | Code discontinued. | discontinued |
| 49 | Caught at, on or in nest by predator. | discontinued |
| 50 | Found dead: band with skeleton or bone only. | current |
| 51 | Banding mortality: bird killed by predators, weather, etc. while in trapping or holding devices. | discontinued |
| 52 | Sight record: band read by telescope or other means while bird was free. | current |
| 53 | Captured for Scientific Purposes (not collected). Status changed. | current |
| 54 | Caught due to striking: radio, TV, high tension, etc. wires or towers, or ceilometers. | current |
| 55 | Caught due to: pesticides. Birds reported killed or captured as a result of spray programs. Does not include avicides. | discontinued |
| 56 | Obtained - Letter simply states in effect "I obtained this bird" | current |
| 57 | Caught due to: entanglement in anything other than fishing gear, e.g., in wire, string, vines, fence, shrubs, etc. | current |
| 58 | Bird located by electronic sensors | current |
| 61 | Found dead or caught due to disease | current |
| 62 | Found dead or caught due to poisoning | current |
| 63 | Struck wind turbine | current |
| 64 | Killed or caught by a predator other than a cat | current |
| 66 | ** Previously banded bird trapped and released during banding operations | current |
| 70 | Purchased, e-Bay, traded, etc. | current |
| 87 | Code discontinued. | discontinued |
| 88 | Code discontinued. | discontinued |
| 89 | Previously banded bird trapped and released during banding operations in different 10-minute block than where originally banded. | discontinued |
| 91 | Illegally taken | current |
| 96 | Code discontinued. | discontinued |
| 97 | Miscellaneous. Method of recovery not covered by other codes. | current |
| 98 | Band or band number only obtained. No further information available. | current |
| 99 | Previously banded bird trapped and released during banding operations in same 10-minute block where originally banded. | discontinued |
* On September 1, 1965, the word "killed," where found in a definition of a How Obtained code, was replaced where possible by the word "Caught" "Caught by," or "Caught by or due to". The Present Condition codes describe whether the bird is dead or alive, etc. and should be considered in conjunction with the How Obtained codes.
** Code 66 was created to replace how obtained codes 89 and 99. Its definition is a truncation of 89 and 99, removing the designation of whether or not the bird was encountered after banding in the same 10-minute block.
