This was posted on the Chicago Peregrine Program site on January 28:
Puzzled
Yesterday (Jan 27th) an immature Peregrine was photographed in Malta IL. We've never seen a Peregrine banded with the USFWS band covered in electrical tape, in this case yellow. Some sites in the eastern US have used this practice. Unfortunately the bird took off before a clear shot of the band on the other leg (bird's left leg) could be gotten.
If anyone happens to be out birding and can find the bird again, we would appreciate help in reading that second band. If anyone knows who may have banded it, please let us know.
Thanks to Kevin Sheely for the remarkable find and photos!
After looking at these photos, and trying to enhance the bands, I think that this is not an Eastern U.S. bird, but a Canadian bird. Please note that the versions above are not the original photos.
I think that the bottom part of the band on the left leg reads 56; the right leg has yellow tape over the band.
After some searching, I came across a 2016 juvie with the band number S/56 on the left leg, and yellow tape on the right. This juvie is Louise from the Canada Square nest in Toronto, a daughter of Haven and Malik.
Haven and Malik had three chicks last year. No tape colors were provided, but one of the chicks had yellow tape.
Chick 1 920 grams Band S over 55 named Symphony
Chick 2 850 grams Band S over 56 named Louise
Chick 3 800 grams Band S over 57 named Quasar
Malta, Illinois is located in what looks like a very rural area.
I would like to have your comments, thoughts and opinions on this.
