Bird Banding Laboratory

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	Killed by carnivore (not cat)	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.*	discontinued
15	Caught or found dead due to: weather conditions.*	current
16	Collected as Scientific Specimen or captured for a Scientific Study. (NOT FOR BANDING)	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	Died from fright	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	Saw or photographed neck collar, color band, or other marker (not federal band) while bird was free	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	Caught by or due to: clam	discontinued
36	Caught due to: exhaustion	current
37	Caught due to: electric shock	discontinued
38	Caught due to: fire	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	Held for propagating	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.	discontinued
46	Caught due to: joined flock of domestic or captive birds or fowl.	discontinued
47	Band removed (no more information)	discontinued
48	Held in captivity.	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	Saw or photographed federal band 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
59	Caught uninjured bird by hand	current
60	Hit by motor vehicle or found dead or injured on road	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, eBay, traded or received band from someone else	current
87	Sight record in a different 10-minute block from one where banded.	discontinued
88	Found nesting in a different 10-minute block from one where banded.	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	Band only	discontinued
97	Miscellaneous. Method of recovery not covered by other codes.	current
98	Found band or band number only (including metal detecting)	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.