A COLOR BAND FOR SPOTTED OWLS

We describe a plastic color band made from laminated engl-aver's plast ic that can be used to mark Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis) and othe r large birds. Hundreds of unique combinations can be obtained by rout ing geometric patterns into the plastic band and by attaching a short, flexible colored tab to the band. Of 3788 Sported Owls that were re-o bserved in one or more years following initial banding, only four lost their color bands, an observed band loss rate of 0.1%. Color bands ar e particularly effective on Spotted Owls because they are tame and can be closely approached during the day Color bands may nor be effective on owls that are difficult to approach or that cannot be easily obser ved during the day.