Panthera
Eight Pointer
Could also mean released from aviculture. Who knows. The bird club site was kind of vague..
Ok, just got this info below from my friend who’s always been helpful and willing to share info to all waterfowlers around. Has been the leading waterfowl biologist in the state for years and is just a wealth of information. Thank you Doug ....
The real story. During July-September 2014-2016, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina DNRs captured approximately 600 black-bellied whistling ducks and applied standard aluminum and color bands to aid in resighting these birds and understanding their movements within the Atlantic Flyway. They didn't just "release" birds they had in hand. These were wild-caught birds that were marked and subsequently released back to the wild. A summary from the Wood Duck and Other Dabblers Committee report from February, 2017.
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Color Banding Project: The color banding project officially completed its 3rd and final year. A University Georgia student analyzed the movement data. The project documented considerable movement of banded birds up and down the Atlantic Coast but little interchange between Atlantic Flyway birds and Gulf Coast birds. This suggests that birds found along the Atlantic Coast may have moved up from the Yucatan Peninsula rather than across from the Gulf Coast. South Carolina and Georgia will continue to color mark birds caught during normal operations. Balkcom stated that Georgia may be able to provide further population analysis of the available data. Preliminary results from the South Carolina satellite telemetry indicate that birds leave SC in mid-November to wintering grounds in eastern and central FL. The Clemson student will deploy 10 transmitters this year and complete a second field season of nest box evaluation.
Well good. Guess that clears that up.
Justin, what did they do on the Outer Banks?
Look up the asinine closures for piping plovers and American oyster catchers. CHNSS is the only place with such stringent rules for these two birds, that aren’t even endangered. CALO, Cape Cod, Ft Fisher, etc all make it work and are user and bird friendly.
Google the consent decree for CHNSS.
Would be funny to make a little stand of shore bird decoys, deck out in camo and act like you're hunting them. Heads would explode.Look up the asinine closures for piping plovers and American oyster catchers. CHNSS is the only place with such stringent rules for these two birds, that aren’t even endangered. CALO, Cape Cod, Ft Fisher, etc all make it work and are user and bird friendly.
Google the consent decree for CHNSS.
Neither the plover nor oyster catcher are endangered like Justin said, he was spot on there.