What information can be collected from banded birds?

Question: While hunting ducks a few months ago at my hunt club, my son shot a double banded wood duck. It had the normal metal band on one leg and on the other leg it had a pink plastic band with the number 9 on it.

The club next to us raises wood ducks and we were wondering if it may have come from there?

How can I best describe to my kids why some ducks are banded? (Mike O.)

Answer: Bird banding is one of the most useful tools in the modern study of wild birds.

Banding birds with uniquely numbered leg rings is meant to reference where and when each bird is banded, its age, sex, and any other information the bander thinks crucial to report to scientists.

Information from bands subsequently found and reported provides data on the range, distribution and migration habits, their relative numbers, annual production, life span, and causes of death of countless species of birds.

Having this information increases scientists’ ability to understand bird habitat and behavior and assists them in their management and conservation efforts (source: USFWS Web site).

As far as the bands you found, it depends on what kind of metal band the bird had. If the band was issued from the USFWS, then you can go to their website www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl and easily find out where it came from.

If it is not a USFWS issued band, that likely means an organization may be providing nesting habitat via wood duck nest boxes, and then banding them as part of a federally-permitted study.

Between the two bands, hopefully you can track some information down.

Animal cruelty

Question: My daughter and I were going to the store on Saturday when we noticed a possum that had just crossed the road and was near the gutter on the other side of the road. The car in front of us veered to the other side of the road and ran over the possum on purpose!

I have been told that possums are a protected animal. Who do I contact to report this?

I was shocked and very angry that someone would do this on purpose! I have pictures of the car, the license plate and of the possum.

I would appreciate any help in this matter. There is no excuse for this kind of cruelty. (Kathi V., Orange County)

Answer: Although opossums are not native to California, they are classified as nongame animals pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 4150, and they may not be taken in the manner you have described (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 472).

However, these kinds of violations can be difficult to prove and prosecute because the drivers will likely claim it was unintentional and that they were distracted and swerving because of other issues inside the car such as a coffee spill, dropped cell phone, etc.

The driver might also claim he was attempting to avoid the animal but the animal got confused and ran back in the direction the car was veering, which does happen sometimes.

Despite these possible scenarios however, what you described could be investigated as an illegal method of take. Hopefully, this was something you will not come across again.

But if you do, you can call the 24-hour CalTIP hotline at (888) 334-2258 or report by text message via “tip411 (numerically, 847411).

What are the rules for mounting trail cameras?

Question: What are the rules or requirements regarding putting a trail camera in a public park?

We're trying to find a friend's lost dog and have gotten tips that she's in a local public park.

No one can ever find her during the day though so we want to put up a trail camera at night to try to confirm if she is there.

If it makes any difference, one of the parks where we think she might be is next to an elementary school.

I just want to know if it's legal, and if so, if there's anything special that needs to be done to put up the trail camera. (Kevin H.)

Answer: This is not under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

This decision will need to be made by the manager or the agency that manages the park as to whether they have any policies that permit or disallow this practice.

Fishing access to the California Aqueduct?

Question: I see many videos on YouTube regarding fishing along the California Aqueduct.

As a main water supply line for California, I would think most areas would restrict access.

Is there any information I can look up to find where the access areas are? I think most areas on the videos are in Southern California.

I am looking for access to the California aqueduct around Central California. (Daniel S.)

Answer: There are many fishing access points along the aqueduct, and many have signs posted as well.

To find some of these places, please check out our online fishing guide at www.wildlife.ca.gov/fishing/guide or our mobile fishing guide at www.dfg.ca.gov/mobile .

Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .