This report summarizes color-band research on Great Cormorants
Phalacrocorax carbo implemented from September 1992 through August 2000. During this period, a total of 1,500 cormorants were banded in Tokyo, Chiba and Aichi Prefectures. The overwhelming majority of these were chicks banded at breeding colonies. In this paper are the color schemes for the cormorants banded at six colonies. Currently, these colonies are stable, and thus ideal for banding research. Hopefully, this situation can be maintained in the future. This research also evaluated the banding technology in use. The currently used color bands were found to suffer from some problems in terms of ease of manufacture, durability, and readability. In the future, technological improvements will hopefully alleviate these problems. In addition, improvements are required in the system for dissemination and collecting of accurate information on banded birds. Hopefully, this report will serve as a first step in that direction.
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