This is not a project of NYSOA. This information is provided for birders who may encounter marked birds.

The DEC is requesting help locating wing marked Common Mergansers.  During the spring of 2009 the DEC marked Common Mergansers in the Catskill Region of New York with yellow and blue wing markers to assess migration movements of males and females during and after the breeding season.  These birds could show up anywhere after May/June so please check Common Mergansers in your area for wing tags.

Little is known about the molt migration of these seldom marked birds.  If you observe a wing tag please report the sighting to the USGS Bird Banding Lab (http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl) as well as Joshua Stiller, NYSDEC Region 4 Bureau of Wildlife, at the phone number or e-mail address listed below.  Even if the numbers are unreadable, the color of the tag would be valuable information for the DEC.