Reporting a banded Veery

The following two paragraphs are repeated from my Catch of the Day of August 23, 2015:

“At 10 Am, our daughter Karen (presently travelling with her husband Gary, from their home in central California) brought a dead bird for me to examine. It had been found by Sid, another Westwood retirement Home resident, dead on the pavement near our building. Sid brought the bird to Kerri, at the front desk. It seems to be some species of thrush, perhaps either a Swainson's Thrush or Veery (see picture). Both are common breeding birds of the Okanagan Valley, and both leave our area in their southward migration at this time of year.

This little bird happens to be carrying a metal band on its leg. I found it difficult to read the numbers stamped into the band. As an aid, I prised the band open, using fine-nosed pliers but in so doing, I damaged it slightly, again making it difficult to read the numbers. I photographed the band.  The number seems to be 2531, top line, with 58725 under that. If anyone can confirm the species of this bird for me, I would be most appreciative. I will try to report the finding of this banded to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Washington, DC which acts as a central clearing house for records of banded migratory birds. If I get any information on where and when it was banded, I will let you know.”

This week a Certificate of Appreciation arrived from the Canadian Wildlife Service. This indicates the value that our government services place on studies of wild bird populations and migration. Cooperation by members of the general public are valued.

You may notice that I had not read the band number quite right. In an earlier communication the CWS indicated that, by a process of elimination, and by using the information turned in by the bird banders, they had determined that I had misread an 8 for a 3 in the band number.

Lars.