Message:

[

Previous   Next

]

By Topic:

[

Previous   Next

]

Subject:

captive waterfowl and hind toes

From:

Matt Hafner

Reply-To:

Date:

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:29:46 -0500

MDOspreyers,
 
 It seems that whenever a vagrant waterfowl shows up with the dreaded "origin" question, the practice of clipping hind toes is always discussed. On the listserv there was no clear consensus on why the toes were clipped or why one toe would be clipped, but not the other. I stumbled upon this pdf file for the USFWS that seems to answer these questions. 
 
 It is titled: "What you should know about a Federal Migratory Waterfowl Sale and Disposal Permit"
 
 http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-9.pdf
 
 I have copied the relevant text below:
 
 3. Do I need to mark waterfowl that I propagate?
 Yes. All live migratory waterfowl (including progeny) possessed in captivity under authority of a valid
 Waterfowl Sale and Disposal permit must, prior to 6 weeks of age, be physically marked using one of the following
 methods:
 (a) Removal of the hind toe from the right foot.
 (b) Pinioning of a wing by removing the metacarpal bones of one wing or a portion of the metacarpal bones
 thereby rendering the bird permanently incapable of flight.
 (c) Banding of one metatarsus with a seamless metal band.
 (d) Tattooing a readily discernible number or letter or combination thereof on the web of one foot.
 
 
 So it would seem that the absence of the right hind toe would NOT be a good sign on a true vagrant (eg Garrett Barnacle Goose http://www.billhubick.com/photos/updates/20061203.html). Also, the presence of both hind toes still leaves the origin question unanswered, but possibly helps the wild origin case a bit. 
 
 I wonder who gets the first photo of a tatooed duck foot ;) 
 
 Good birding,
 
 Matt Hafner
 Bel Air, MD/Blacksburg, VA
 
________________________________________________________________________
Check out the new AOL.  Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more.