How to read a neck collar:
The collar must be read in the correct direction to make sure the right alpha-numeric characters are being entered into the neck collar database. Information that is needed to read the collar include: (see example below from the photograph at the left )* The bird at the left is a tundra swan. The yellow marking by the area of the eyes (called the lores) is one way to identify this swan from a trumpeter swan. This picture shows the proper attachment of a neck collar on a swan. Note: the collar code pictured is not part of the trumpeter swan database.
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Collar Code
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Color of Lettering
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Color of Collar
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Type of Collar
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K012
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White
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Blue
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Hard Plastic
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The collar should be read from the bottom of the collar to the top (from the shoulder of the bird to the head), if the collar was put on correctly. As of 1993, there are now protocols to follow regarding swan neck collars.
* Possible letter colors are Black or White.
* 3 character combinations consisting of 1 letter and 2 numbers in any order
* Possible collar colors are Green, Red, or Yellow.
Further information about using neck collars for tracking migratory birds can be viewed at:
USGS-Bird Banding Laboratory