06/24/2026
“What does this band mean?”
This band is issued as part of a federally regulated system used to identify captive-bred birds of prey in the United States. Each band carries a unique number that can be traced to the bird’s records.
The “US GOV” marking indicates the band was issued under a program regulated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. In this case, Junior is a captive-bred aplomado falcon legally possessed and flown under federal and state permits.
Many of the birds used in falconry, bird abatement, conservation projects, and educational programs are tracked through this system.
It’s a small band with a big story behind it. 🪶