Register      Login
Wildlife Research Wildlife Research Society
Ecology, management and conservation in natural and modified habitats
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > WR > WR09015
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 36(4)

Longevity of DayGlo fluorescent particle marker used to mark birds in flight pen and field

Shelagh K. Tupper A B , John L. Cummings A and Richard M. Engeman A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 West LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.

B Corresponding author. Email: shelagh.k.tupper@aphis.usda.gov

Wildlife Research 36(4) 319-323 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR09015
Submitted: 7 February 2009  Accepted: 3 March 2009   Published: 1 June 2009

Abstract

Spray application of fluorescent particles is a widely used and very valuable technique for marking birds. This remains one of the few practical means to mark large numbers of birds for monitoring movement, despite recent availability of a variety of more technologically advanced options. We monitored the longevity of the DayGlo fluorescent particle marker on red-winged blackbirds under simulated field conditions in a flight pen, and in an observational field experiment. In the pen study we banded 52 red-winged blackbirds with individually numbered leg bands, and sprayed them with DayGlo fluorescent particle marker from a distance of ~50 cm, on 1 December 2004. These birds were recaptured and DayGlo fluorescent particle marks assessed 11 times until 10 August 2005. All 31 surviving birds at the conclusion of the study (i.e. after 254 days) retained at least some DayGlo fluorescent particle marker on one or more body regions. Wings retained DayGlo fluorescent particle marks longer than other body regions and thus could be used to identify marks in large-scale collections. Roosting wild blackbirds aerially marked in September and October 2005 retained marks through June 2006, 263 days after marking. The formulation used is inexpensive (US$4.00 L−1), easy-to-apply at many scales and practical for many species (e.g. starlings, blackbirds, sparrows, gulls and shorebirds).


Acknowledgements

We thank A. Taylor, D. T. King, G. M. Linz., N. M. Roberts, M. E. Tobin, and S. J. Werner as well as several anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful comments on earlier versions of this manuscript. We also thank R. W. Byrd for assistance with marking and collecting birds and the staff of NWRC’s Animal Care unit for care of the birds throughout the study. The capture, care, and use of animals associated with this study were approved by NWRC’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (NWRC Study Protocol QA1235).


References

Balham, R. W. , and Elder, W. H. (1953). Colored leg bands for waterfowl. Journal of Wildlife Management 17, 446–449.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Bills T. D. , and Knittle C. E. 1986. Toxicity of DayGlo® fluorescent pigment material to four species of fish. Unpublished Bird Damage Research Report No. 359, Denver Wildlife Research Center, USDA, Denver, CO.

Brook, R. W. , and Clark, R. G. (2002). Retention and effects of nasal markers and subcutaneously implanted radio transmitters on breeding female lesser scaup. Journal of Field Ornithology 73, 206–212.
Bruggers R. L. , and Bortoli L. (1979). Laboratory trials using fluorescent dyes and paints as marking agents for quelea studies. In ‘Vertebrate Pest Control and Management Materials. ASTM STP 680’. (Ed. J. R. Beck.) pp. 231–236. (American Society for Testing and Materials.)

Bullard R. W. (1990). PA-14 (Tergitol 15-S-9) – Registration No. 56228–13 – Directions for Use. MRID PA14/171–3. Unpublished Report, Denver Wildlife Research Center, Denver, CO.

Carver, A. V. , Brennan, L. A. , and Burger, L. W. (1999). Passive integrated transponders and patagial tag markers for northern bobwhite chicks. Journal of Wildlife Management 63, 162–166.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Gadd P. Jr . (1996). Use of the modified Australian crow trap for the control of depredating birds in Sonoma County. In ‘Proceedings of the 17th Vertebrate Pest Conference’. (Eds R. M. Timm and A. C. Crabb.) pp. 103–107. (University of California: Davis, CA.)

Hill, G. E. (1992). An inexpensive source of colored leg bands. Journal of Field Ornithology 63, 408–410.
Johns B. E. , Bruggers R. L. , and Jaeger M. M. (1989). Mass-marking quelea with fluorescent pigment particles. In ‘Quelea quelea, Africa’s Bird Pest’. (Eds R. L. Bruggers and C. C. H. Elliott.) pp. 50–60. (Oxford University Press: Oxford.)

Kalbfleish J. D. , and Prentice R. L. (1980). ‘The Statistical Analysis of Failure Time Data.’ (John Wiley and Sons: New York.)

Kaplan, E. L. , and Meier, P. (1958). Nonparametric estimation from incomplete observations. Journal of the American Statistical Association 53, 457–481.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Knittle C. E. , and Johns B. E. (1986). Field-spray comparison of two particle-marker formations used to mass-mark red-winged blackbirds. Unpublished Bird Damage Research Report No. 359, Denver Wildlife Research Center, USDA, Denver, CO.

Knittle, C. E. , Linz, G. M. , Johns, B. E. , Cummings, J. L. , Davis, J. E. , and Jaeger, M. M. (1987). Dispersal of male red-winged blackbirds from two spring roosts in central North America. Journal of Field Ornithology 58, 490–498.
SAS Institute (2004). ‘SAS/STAT User’s Guide. Vol. 3.’ (SAS Institute: Carey, NC.)

Scott E. J. , Schafer E. C. , and Schafer E. W. Jr (1984). Evaluation of the effects of DayGlo® pigments and carriers used for mass-marking wild birds on body weight, food consumption, egg production and fertility of coturnix quail. Unpublished Bird Damage Research Report No. 324, Denver Wildlife Research Center, USDA, Denver, CO.

Stettenheim P. (1972). The integument of birds. In ‘Avian Biology. Vol. II’. (Eds D. S. Farner and J. R. King.) pp. 9–13. (Academic Press Incorporated: New York.)

Sugden, L. G. , and Poston, H. J. (1968). A nasal marker for ducks. Journal of Wildlife Management 32, 984–986.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wadkins, L. A. (1948). Dyeing birds for identification. Journal of Wildlife Management 12, 388–391.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Watt, D. J. (2001). Recapture rate and breeding frequencies of American goldfinches wearing different colored leg bands. Journal of Field Ornithology 72, 236–243.


Wendeln, H. , Nagel, R. , and Becker, P. H. (1996). A technique to spray dyes on birds. Journal of Field Ornithology 67, 442–446.


Williams, C. K. , Samuel, M. D. , Baranyuk, V. V. , Cooch, E. G. , and Kraege, D. (2008). Winter fidelity and apparent survival of lesser snow goose populations in the Pacific Flyway. Journal of Wildlife Management 72, 159–167.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zadegan, S. S. (2004). A short report on flamingo (Pheonicopterus rubber) ringing at Lake Uromiyeh (Iran) and recoveries in Turkey. The Ring 26, 93–94.




1 Use of brand names does not imply USDA endorsement.