Photo by Nick Schaefer 

The only thing that I like more than hunting ducks has to be banding them. Banding ducks consists of capturing ducks live, putting a numerated metal band around their leg then releasing them unharmed. Most often the bands are not GPS capable but rather rely on hunter and photographer reporting to help build an understanding of the health of the waterfowl population. The process for duck capturing varies depending on the project.

Photos by Melanie Graeff

Pintails, mallards, wigeon, and green-winged teal are all frequent attendees, but the occasional blue-winged teal and northern shoveler will also make a showing. Mallards are considered the target species since they serve as a proxy to assess duck populations at large and inform the season lengths and limits for the impacted flyways. It is not uncommon to band 600 mallards in a season, but the hope is to increase that number to get closer to the state-wide lofty goal of 6,000 Mallards ducks. 

Photo by Nathaniel Kibbey

Although the data aggregation is overseen by the US Geological Survey (USGS), most of the hands-on banding is conducted by a patchwork of federal and state agencies. Waterfowl banding happens across North America in different capacities. As fall migration kicks off, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) conducts waterfowl. In past years the primary location for the Interior banding effort occurred at a banding station on Big Minto Lake. However, due to logistical difficulties, high water levels, and wildfires, Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge has become increasingly more important to the effort. 

Photo by Nate Kibbey 

The operation at the refuge was headed by ADF&G Wildlife Technician, Nate LaShomb, along with other banders and volunteers from ADF&G, Friends of Creamers Field, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I am simply a volunteer with the program and have learned all of the skills needed from the biologists and more experienced banders. The ideal situation is that three people assist with banding twice daily. Having an ample number of volunteers really reduces the workload for the few ADF&G staff and makes the project manageable.  

In 2024 I was fortunate enough to have a few BHA members along with me to help sling some ducks. Not only was the experience greatly enjoyable for the volunteers, but it was also a great value added for waterfowl management. I hope in 2025 to incorporate more opportunities for other BHA members to assist with this effort. Although I am disappointed by the time that August comes to a close it has a silver lining. September first is opening season for waterfowl season in Alaska and as soon as the window closes for banding, I get the opportunity to pluck a few. Fortunately, I have yet to shoot one that I banded, but that possibility always exists.