We do not use leg or neck bands. We use microchips because they cannot be removed and in Florida, if a swan is microchipped and owners can show ownership, then it is a felony to steal, harm or injure a captive swan.

Leg and neck bands are useful in that you can readily see the bands if you need to quickly identify the bird, but they can be removed by someone wanting to steal or harm the birds, and the placement and size of the bands are an important concern. If the bands are placed on the bird at a very early age, they may fall off if they are too big, or cause the young bird to become entangled in or on something that can lead to drowning, starvation or other detrimental condition because they cannot free themselves.

A small band that the bird does not have room to grow can actually restrict circulation or strangle a body part such as the neck or leg. The bands must be replaced as soon as the cygnets begin to outgrow them. The problem with capture in this scenario is that the cygnets will grow and become stronger. They will also get a lot wiser to being captured and may successfully evade and hide so that they cannot be captured. If the birds cannot be recaptured in a timely fashion, then band strangulation may occur. It is also known that flying wild birds have died because of freezing neck bands. This should not be a concern with captive birds as they are usually rendered unable to fly (pinioned).

Although microchips are not readily visible for identification purposes and a capture must be undertaken, there is no critical timeline to capture in contrast to a band entanglement or constriction.

There was one particular individual that made the plastic type neck bands out of Maryland and we’re not sure that he still produces them. You may need to go on the internet to research a bird product company or look up bird bands for waterfowl to see if you can find a manufacturer. The Regal Swan