Four Week Old Chicks Are Banded
A cloth is placed over the heads of the chicks so that they remain calm, enabling the bander to work with greater efficiency. Falconers use a hood for the same purpose.
Here we see the bander’s hand holding the tarsal so as to expose the band. The talons are uniquely designed to grasp fish. The bottom of the feet and toes are covered with short sharp spines to aid in holding this wet prey. An additional adaptation allows osprey to turn their outer toe backward with parrot-like dexterity. They are the only raptor whose front talons turn backward. (A. Poole / D. Dobkin)
Note: see slide show entitled "Fish and Chicks" for information about the applications of banding
