I will probably need Bs and Cs, I'm thinking. I have some gold-breasted waxbills that I could band, like, right now, and they may take As, but I really don't know until I try to fit them. The owls are only about a week old right now. I guess until I look at the birds out of the nest and try to fit the bands, I won't really know what size I'll need. That's probably not very helpful, is it? My NFSS member #14082, BTW.What sizes do you need? I have plenty of bands, so I can bring to Houston whatever sizes you need. Then I just would need your NFSS member number, so I can transfer the bands into your name.
What size NFSS band for owl finches?
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KarenB
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Re: What size NFSS band for owl finches?
Sally
KarenB
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Sally
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Re: What size NFSS band for owl finches?
Jen
Just a quick course on banding. In the U.S., if you wish to closed-band your birds, you need to become a member of NFSS (National Finch & Softbill Society), so you can order their bands. They are aluminum bands with lasered information such as NFS, the year, the band size, and consecutive numbers. The advantages to closed-banding your birds are that you now have proof to buyers of the age of your birds and if you show, your birds can accumulate points. There is a size chart at www.nfss.org. Another advantage is that these bands can be traced. If I buy a bird with an NFSS band, I can contact the band secretary, and she can look up the number of the band and tell me the name of the breeder.
Birds are usually closed-banded in the nest, usually anywhere from 7 to 10 days old. For those species that won't tolerate nest checks, NFSS permits breeders to go up one size from that recommended for that species, and then you band them on the day of fledging. This is because the original size will be too small to go over the ankle, while going up one size permits that band to slip over the ankle. Much past the day of fledging, and the bands will not go over the ankle of the bird. This is why we say this is proof of the age of the bird, as these bands must be applied when the finch is quite young, either still in the nest or just fledged. The legs themselves don't grow a lot after fledging, so the band will not be too tight, it is the ankle joint that makes it necessary to go up one size in the bands.
Split bands can be applied at any time, and this is what most breeders use to identify family bloodlines, or to identify individual birds. Some breeders use them to identify the sex on monomorphic species (blue for boys, pink for girls). Since these bands don't have to go over the ankle joint, it doesn't matter how old the bird is.
You also can find split aluminum bands for sale. I have some of those, stamped with my initials and consecutive numbers. These are used when I purchase birds that don't have closed bands. I have no idea how old the birds are, so I don't bother with a year on these bands. It just gives me a way to identify each individual bird that I purchase, gives me some information to put in my records. I then use split bands in different colors to identify families.
NFSS also has some new colored bands for sale, which are like tiny colored rubber bands. I love these new bands, as they are the first bands I have ever found that will stay on a Goldbreast (other than NFSS closed-bands). They are closed, yet will stretch to go over an adult bird's ankle and can also be removed easily. No small open crack to catch on nests, etc., like the split plastic bands.
Just a quick course on banding. In the U.S., if you wish to closed-band your birds, you need to become a member of NFSS (National Finch & Softbill Society), so you can order their bands. They are aluminum bands with lasered information such as NFS, the year, the band size, and consecutive numbers. The advantages to closed-banding your birds are that you now have proof to buyers of the age of your birds and if you show, your birds can accumulate points. There is a size chart at www.nfss.org. Another advantage is that these bands can be traced. If I buy a bird with an NFSS band, I can contact the band secretary, and she can look up the number of the band and tell me the name of the breeder.
Birds are usually closed-banded in the nest, usually anywhere from 7 to 10 days old. For those species that won't tolerate nest checks, NFSS permits breeders to go up one size from that recommended for that species, and then you band them on the day of fledging. This is because the original size will be too small to go over the ankle, while going up one size permits that band to slip over the ankle. Much past the day of fledging, and the bands will not go over the ankle of the bird. This is why we say this is proof of the age of the bird, as these bands must be applied when the finch is quite young, either still in the nest or just fledged. The legs themselves don't grow a lot after fledging, so the band will not be too tight, it is the ankle joint that makes it necessary to go up one size in the bands.
Split bands can be applied at any time, and this is what most breeders use to identify family bloodlines, or to identify individual birds. Some breeders use them to identify the sex on monomorphic species (blue for boys, pink for girls). Since these bands don't have to go over the ankle joint, it doesn't matter how old the bird is.
You also can find split aluminum bands for sale. I have some of those, stamped with my initials and consecutive numbers. These are used when I purchase birds that don't have closed bands. I have no idea how old the birds are, so I don't bother with a year on these bands. It just gives me a way to identify each individual bird that I purchase, gives me some information to put in my records. I then use split bands in different colors to identify families.
NFSS also has some new colored bands for sale, which are like tiny colored rubber bands. I love these new bands, as they are the first bands I have ever found that will stay on a Goldbreast (other than NFSS closed-bands). They are closed, yet will stretch to go over an adult bird's ankle and can also be removed easily. No small open crack to catch on nests, etc., like the split plastic bands.
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Sally
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Re: What size NFSS band for owl finches?
KarenB I'll bring an assortment of sizes to the Houston show.
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Sally
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Re: What size NFSS band for owl finches?
Jen Glad you are coming to the Houston show, I think it will be a good one. Armando Lee is the judge, he is very informative. I will be there, but Deborah (finchmix22) won't be able to attend. The woman who is driving wants to leave Friday morning, and Deborah is working and can't get off. There will be quite a few of us from the DFW area, plus the local Houston members. There is a nice group of people from the Houston bird club, I think you will enjoy it. KarenB is planning to attend to watch the show. Did you want to try to show any birds?
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Jen
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Re: What size NFSS band for owl finches?
No, I don't think I'm ready to show birds but I am really looking forward to the show and hopefully meeting some of my new forum friends. Can't wait!!!
Jenny
Gouldians, Red Cheek Cordon Blue family, Gold Breasted Waxbills, Fire Finches, Owl finches, Yellow Face & Red Face Star Finches, Lavender Finches, Society Finches, Canary,Rosey Bourke, Scarlet Chested Grasskeets, Cockatiels, too many Guineas, Izzy my 16 year old cute doggie dog, two spoiled kitties!
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KarenB
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Re: What size NFSS band for owl finches?
I'll be the one going around asking everyone's name since I have yet to see your faces 
KarenB
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Jen
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Re: What size NFSS band for owl finches?
LOL!!! We need name tags! Really looking forward to meeting you guys!KarenB wrote: I'll be the one going around asking everyone's name since I have yet to see your faces
Jenny
Gouldians, Red Cheek Cordon Blue family, Gold Breasted Waxbills, Fire Finches, Owl finches, Yellow Face & Red Face Star Finches, Lavender Finches, Society Finches, Canary,Rosey Bourke, Scarlet Chested Grasskeets, Cockatiels, too many Guineas, Izzy my 16 year old cute doggie dog, two spoiled kitties!