BANDING NORTHERN PINTAILS

The 2008 pre-season pintail banding effort came to a close a couple weeks ago.  California Waterfowl and the Department of Fish and Game each had field crews roaming the Central Valley looking for pintail this year.  DFG crews focused on Sacramento NWR and Delevan NWR and were assisted by USFWS staff.  California Waterfowl crews focused on Gray Lodge WA, Yolo WA, Upper Butte Basin WA and private lands in District 10.  The field crews caught and banded a total of 1,698 pintail. 

The information gathered from band recoveries is used to help set season limits and regulations.  California Waterfowl believes that the current harvest limitations are based on incomplete data sets.  To read more about our effort to help solve this problem click here>>

2008 Pre-Season Pintail Banding Summary
Gray Lodge WA – 302 pintail
Yolo WA – 181 pintail
Upper Butte Basin WA – 83 pintail
Private Lands – 53 pintail
Delevan & Sac NWR - 1,079 pintail

Yolo Bypass WA Pintail Trapping Photos:
Click for full size photo

Pintail loafing on shore near rocket net.	Rocket net fired!
Pintail leaving pond after rockets fired.	Banding crew freeing ducks from net.
Determining the age and sex of pintail.	Releasing banded pintail.