Proportion of recovered duck bands that are reported

Band-reporting rates (the proportion of duck bands recovered by hunters that are actually reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory) appear to have decreased between the late 1950's and early 1960's. About one-half the banded ducks bagged during the 1958-59 and 1959-60 hunting seasons were reported-a rate similar to those recorded in other studies conducted during the early and mid-1950's. Band-reporting rates were lower for the 1962-63 and 1962-64 hunting seasons; less than one-third of the banded ducks bagged were reported. This decrease in band-reporting rates was concurrent with significant changes in duck hunting regulations, the volume of duck banding, and the method used to relay information to the person who reports a band. Band-reporting rates differed for various species of ducks. In general, band-reporting rates were high on canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria), redheads (A. americana), and pintails Anas acuta) and low for teals (Anas discors and A. carolinensis).