As I mentioned in a previous post, the 4-letter alpha codes are ones developed for use on banding schedules. This is the only standardized set of 4-letter codes in common use. Since some species produce duplicate codes if the general rules are followed as is the case with Northern Shrike and Northern Shoveler, it isn't so easy to remember. The normal rule for two-word codes is to use the first 2 letters of each word; to eliminate most dups, use first letter of first word, and 3 letters of second word -- NSHR and NSHO. You can download a list from the BBL web site at www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL if you like. Have a good holiday! Cheers, Kathy "Hershberger, Wilbur" To: "'mdosprey@ARI.Net'" <WHershbe@afrs.ars <mdosprey@ARI.Net> .usda.gov> cc: Sent by: Subject: RE: [MDOsprey] RE: owner-mdosprey@ARI Codes .Net 12/20/99 01:27 PM Please respond to mdosprey I didn't say that it was the banding code.