19 March 2022
Can you help solve a mystery?
On the 25th of October, 2022, a birder in Barbados, Michael St John, spotted an Osprey. That same Osprey was seen again in early March 2023 and photographed. It is unknown whether or not Blue KW0 was on the island during that period or if the bird is migrating through. Michael has contacted me, hoping that ‘we – Bird World’ can help discover who Blue KW0 is.
The Blue ring on the left leg is clear and shows the three alphanumeric codes. Where was this bird banded? What is its history? How did it get to Barbados? This is what we are trying to discover.
The triple-digit number would immediately call to mind a Scottish-ringed Osprey. However, Tim Mackrill, Director of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, writes, “It does look like the type of rings we use in the UK, but I cannot find a record that we have used KW0. I have contacted the ringer who used KU0 and KX0 in the hope he can help. I would love it to be a bird from the UK, but perhaps there is someone in North America using those Darvics? I will let you know when I have more information.”
Robert Domenech, the Executive Director of the Raptor View Research Institute in Missoula, Montana has no record of the number used on an Osprey in the United States or Canada.
So, this beautiful osprey is a mystery. Was it banded in the Caribbean? There are no banders in Barbados? Guadaloupe? Martinique?
Please spread this request as broadly as you possibly can. Thank you so much for your help!
Thank you! Any information can be left in the comments or sent to me directly: maryannsteggles@icloud.com
Images courtesy of Michael St. John.
