There is a reason why the parrot accompanies even the cunning pirate – because these birds are smart enough to entertain even the most discriminating pet owners. The parrot is for you if you are looking for a pet that is not simply cute and cuddly, but also elegant, beautiful, and easy to train for a variety of tricks and even sentences. The first thing that you need to know, however, is how to look up bird band numbers for parrots. Bird bands are the primary ID mechanism for parrots. These are either open or closed bands and are attached on the bird’s leg either during the quarantine period if the bird has been transported from other countries, or during the time of hatching if the bird has been bred within the country. Here are the ways to look up bird band numbers.
- Visit an aviculture organization. Parrot keeping is a growing hobby in the United States, as well as in many other countries. Because of this, there are several organizations that have sprung up to bring parrot lovers around the country together. One of these is the American Federation of Aviculture. Almost all of these parrot breeder organizations have a bird band system that can be sold at discount for their members. The format of the information and the types of details that are included in the bird band will differ from one organization from the other. To learn about the information on a particular parrot, check out the organization seal or logo in the band and contact the aviculture organization who will interpret the information for you.
- Contact an exert parrot keeper. Almost every community has a number of avid parrot breeders. If you are still a beginner in everything to do with parrots, the best way for you to learn how to take care and breed these special birds is through a local parrot keeper that you know of. Most pet shops can refer you to a few clients who they interact with. Some will even have clients who have bred parrots successfully enough to be the pet shop’s supplier later on. These parrot experts will help you to decode the number on the bird bands.
- Determine the type of information. Once you have a reliable source that can help you decode the information, you can start reading the bird band numbers on your pet’s leg. At present, there is no universal set of information that each bird band is required to have. For open bands, however, the bird’s place of origin is usually indicated as well as the year when the parrot was brought to the country. for closed bands, more information can be placed in the band, such as information on how bred the parrot, the parrot’s year and place of birth, type of bird, and even some genetic information. Keep in mind, however, that this information is usually coded, which means that you will not be able to interpret the figures until you learned from a bird keeper or the organization who has issued the particular bird band.
Bird bands are one of the easiest ways of identifying a parrot. In case your parrot has flown away or has gotten lost, the bird band is one of the identifying features that will help you inform the authorities about your lost bird. With the ability to read and look up bird band numbers for parrots, you can rest assured that you know exactly who your bird is – even if it leaves the coop.