Exploring Tools for Research (Back to Photo)
Did you guess right? They are leg bands. This adult bald eagle is identified by the blue and silver-colored leg bands it wears. The blue leg band identifies him as being hatched in New York State. Other states have different colored bands. The silver band is the federal identification for this bird.
Every summer biologists climb up and visit each New York nest to record and band the new eaglets. Here you can see eaglet P88. This bird was banded by Peter Nye in the summer of 2005. Does he look happy about the visit?
Photos: Jon McRay (top) Pete Nye (bottom)