Found Nanday Conure Parrot

Question
Hi...a Nanday flew onto my shoulder 2 weeks ago while I was in my garden.He is
banded,which reads:JHC...then a 7.Have contacted SPCA,local police, area
vets,and posted flyers--no response.Hopefully,the bird's banding can help,but I
don't know where to find out...please help!Thanks!

Answer
Hi, Wendy.  Thanks for posting!

JHC 7 isn't enough information to trace down this bird by it's band number.  That information may just be the breeder's initials and a bird number (perhaps this bird was bird 7 to the breeder who's initials are JHC).  Is there any more information on the leg band?  If not, then there's not much else you can do with the leg band information.  However, you might want to take it upon yourself to contact some of the leg band companies.  See information below:

Domestic birds wear closed bands. Their traceability depends upon the source of the band. Many bird associations such as SPBE, AFA or species related organizations offer record keeping services and bands to their members. There are other band providers who provide both traceable and non-traceable bands. To trace a band which has an organization name engraved on it, you would contact the organization engraved on the band. Each organization will have its own procedures to trace the band.

For example the bands for SPBE include a breeder code (usually 3 letters), a number (bird identification number) and the year. The initials SPBE also appear - that makes them traceable to that particular organization.

Major band providers, such as L & M Leg Bands and Red Bird, make many of the bands for the organizations mentioned. They also make bands for others, such as individual breeders and aviaries.

L & M offers customers engraving which includes: a buyer id code (up to three characters such as letters, numbers or symbols); a consecutive series of numbers so each band has a unique number for record-keeping; their state or Canadian province abbreviation; and lastly, the year. With the exception of some states, this is all optional. L & M is not imprinted on their bands.

It is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to trace a band which does not have an organization code on it. The best course is to contact the major band manufacturers. They have thousands of customers, so it is unlikeley that the band buyer code would be unique. But they may be able to provide the names of a few breeders using this code, which is a starting point. The more information which has been engraved on the band, the better the chances of tracing it.

There are some states, such as Colorado or New Jersey, which have regulations which make tracing of bands easier. In Colorado the state assigns unique breeder codes that must appear on the bands, making them traceable. New Jersey requires band manufacturers to make sure that no one uses the same code twice and an 'NJ' in an oval must also appear on the bands. In California, budgies must have a traceable state registered closed band on in order to be sold, traded or bartered legally in the state.

Leg Bands are not the only means of identifying a bird and they definitely have their pros and cons. However, they are currently the method required by many governmental organizations. For this reason, it is important for owners to understand as much as they can about banding.

You could check with L&M bands or Red Band, etc...get information from the internet.  However, if JHC 7 is the only information on the band, I don't suspect you'll have much luck.

I take it you don't want this bird?  If not, let me know where you live (city and state).  I have a friend who needs a male nanday...perhaps we could take this bird off your hands (even if you don't know the sex, perhaps my friend would be willing to pay the shipping charges).

Thanks.

Chrys