Michael Sylva wrote: "Maybe someone else has calculated a hypothetical recovery rate based on empirical data and sound mathematics. Also, I would think that there are figures on the number of birds killed or injured during the banding process. That would offer a fairer indication than a single anecdote, namely, the calliope hummingbird. It seems to me that Thornton is trying to arrange the facts to fit his preconceived conclusion." The data I used was based on figures published by the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in their article, 100 years of bird banding in North America 1902 - 2002. The link to that site was included in my original post. I trust that the USGS/Patuxent researcher who posted the information was using "sound mathematics" but if Mr. Sylva has a concern that their figures, then that is his problem. There are guidelines that banders follow with regard to their kill/injury rate. I think they try to keep it to 10% or less. As far as the single anecdote of the Calliope Hummingbird being killed in the banding process in Ohio. it proves my point precisely -- in some cases, we are loving certain species of birds to death by banding. If that single Calliope hummer had been in my back yard, it would probably have represented the entire known population of Calliope's in Cumberland County at that time. For a bander to come in and kill it in the name of scientific study means that 100% of the known Calliope Hummingbirds at that moment were killed in my county. I would call that loving a bird to death by banding -- or have I missed something here? Terry Thornton Rinnie, TN (North of Crossville on the Cumberland Plateau) =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx (423) 764-3958 =========================================================