Who is banding white-fronted terns?

[Brent Stephenson]

Hi there,

Whilst at the Manawatu Estuary on 20 Feb I saw and photographed at least one juv white-fronted tern that had a metal band on the right leg. This was a bird clearly having just fledged and was still begging for food from passing adults. I'd be interested to know who is banding this species and where, and therefore how far this young bird had travelled.

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Thanks in advance,

[Neil Fitzgerald]

I photographed this one near Kaikoura in November 2006. Never found out who dunnit (never tried very hard).

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[Brent Stephenson]

Thanks to all those who responded about this one...amazing what you can find out about within a few short hours!

It would seem that the only white-fronted tern banding being conducted this season was by Lindsay Rowe from Kaikoura, who it seems banded a bunch of juveniles just before Xmas. Thus the bird I photographed was a mere two months old and already about 260 km away from home (as the tern flies). I guess on the flip side it was still calling for mum to feed it!

Cheers and thanks,

[philbattley]

Hi Brent,

And in a similar vein, a metal-ringed bird at the Manawatu Estuary whose band number I was able to read recently was also from Lindsay's banding in Kaikoura, banded as a chick in Nov 2007. This is good info to have.

Phil