Closed Leg Bands for Fire & Strawberry Finches

[L in Ontario]

Do they both wear the same size? If not - which is bigger/smaller?

In the Canadian AACC Leg Band Chart says Fire Finches wear a size B. It does not specify Strawberries. I'm wondering if they are the same or would they be a size A (this is the smallest size)?

For reference, it also says Gouldians and Star Finches wear a size C. This is what I have been applying to my finches. My Society Finches wear size D.

I'm wondering what I should order for my Fire and Strawberry Finches. If I band them only on the day they fledge - and I think I'm supposed to use 1 size larger, that would be size C. The same as my Gouldians wear?

[Sally]

Liz - the NFSS is a little bit different on sizes. The Strawberries wear a size A (2.20 mm), the Fires a size B (2.40 mm), Stars a size C (2.55 mm), and Gouldians a size D (2.75 mm). These sizes are what is recommended when you band hatchlings while still in the nest. If you band on the day of fledging, it would be one size larger.

However, Goldbreasts are supposed to wear a size A, so at fledging, you would assume a size B, and size B was too large for my babies I just banded. Even 3 days after fledging, they were able to wear a size A. I banded my Strawberry babies at fledging with size Bs. What a dope--they were being fostered, so I could have easily banded them in the nest, just didn't think of it! In the future, I am going to try the hatchling size even when banding at fledging, especially with some of these tiny waxbills.

[L in Ontario]

thanks so much Sally. Wow - now why don't they make band sizes the same internationally?! The birds are not different sizes so why should the bands be different.

Size A in Canada are 2.16mm - small waxbills
Size B in Canada are 2.34mm - Fire finches
Size C in Canada are 2.55mm - Gouldians, Stars, etc
Size D in Canada are 2.67mm - Societies, etc

Wouldn't it make sense that both Canadian and US band sizes would be the same mm measurements?!

I just want to make sure as they grow (after I put the bands on) that their legs don't get too big for the bands (the bands may end up too tight).

[BillD]

Thank you for posting this info.

I am terrified of trying what I will need to do when I have offspring to put leg rings on them. They are so small and I don't want to hurt them (I have big hands).

I'm a novice and would appreciate any suggestions. I have viewed the Finch Information Center on Leg Bands and Record Keeping. I'm going to join NFSS.

[Sally]

Liz (L of Ontario) has a good slideshow on her website that shows how to apply legbands. I don't know how to link to a thread, but if you look under Finch Chat for my thread 'Closed Banding Baby Birds' started April 30, 2008, you can read what I went thru the first time I had to band--the birds survived it, but I didn't know if I would!

[L in Ontario]

Thank you so much Sally. Word of mouth is a great way to have people come look at my website and specifically the page on banding these awesome babies!!

It was my first time ever banding of any chicks and my son took the photos. The chicks cooperated very nicely. Banding is really not all that hard to do.

[BillD]

Liz (L of Ontario) has a good slideshow on her website that shows how to apply legbands. I don't know how to link to a thread, but if you look under Finch Chat for my thread 'Closed Banding Baby Birds' started April 30, 2008, you can read what I went thru the first time I had to band--the birds survived it, but I didn't know if I would!

Thanks Sally.

I found both your thread and Liz's website pics.

Liz, you make it look easy.

[BillD]

Do they both wear the same size? If not - which is bigger/smaller?

In the Canadian AACC Leg Band Chart says Fire Finches wear a size B. It does not specify Strawberries. I'm wondering if they are the same or would they be a size A (this is the smallest size)?

For reference, it also says Gouldians and Star Finches wear a size C. This is what I have been applying to my finches. My Society Finches wear size D.

I'm wondering what I should order for my Fire and Strawberry Finches. If I band them only on the day they fledge - and I think I'm supposed to use 1 size larger, that would be size C. The same as my Gouldians wear?

Hi Liz,

I found this info on band sizes with nfss.org when I joined.

http://nfss.org/bands/bandsizemetal.html

Hope that helps.

[L in Ontario]

Thanks Bill. That does tell me the size of bands for Strawberries are smaller than for Fires. And that bands for Fires are smaller than for Gouldians. I'll be banding with Canadian bands though and just don't understand why bands cannot be sized on an international level - all countries have the same size bands for the same birds. Just too simple I suppose.

Closed banding is not hard to do at all just a teeny bit nerve wracking the first time or two.

[BillD]

Thanks Bill. That does tell me the size of bands for Strawberries are smaller than for Fires. And that bands for Fires are smaller than for Gouldians. I'll be banding with Canadian bands though and just don't understand why bands cannot be sized on an international level - all countries have the same size bands for the same birds. Just too simple I suppose.

Closed banding is not hard to do at all just a teeny bit nerve wracking the first time or two.

I'm glad that helped with your sizing comparison. At least it had mm dimensions to compare to your Canadien band sizes.. Not many are familiar with the metric sizes down here (I have foreign cars, so I have some knowledge). Would make sense to have an international standard, but i'm not in charge. ehehe..

I will let you know when I do my first closed banding.. Your website gave me a lot of good information on how I should do it. Appreciate all the insight and information..

Maybach Landaulet.. hehe