OLD BUCKEL AND BIRD BAND

[against the wind]

I took a ride up north yesterday and walked into some Westchester County Woods. The rain we got on Tuesday and Wednesday was sure to bring up some nice signals.
Sure enough on a hill overlooking a nice body of water, the E-Trac gave me a signal that registered close to a nickel signal. At only 3 inches, I used the pin pointer to locate what I identified as a piece of an old buckle. I scanned the ground again and got a signal about a foot away. I dug out another piece to the buckle. Another sweep of the coil and another identical signal. Sure enough, a 3rd piece of the buckle. I spent about 45 minutes trying to find the missing piece(s). No go. If anyone can Identify and date this buckle, feel free to jump in.
Another interesting target I dug up is a 1918 bird band. It is the oldest bird band that I have found to date.

 

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[trapperart]

Congrats on the buckle frame, wheats and old bird band nice finds

 

[joeyfresh]

I think the bird bands are super cool. I dug one a couple of weeks ago with the leg bone still in it.

 

[Loco-Digger]

No help on the buckle ATW, but it's nice to see you got out and dug some keepers.

 

[against the wind]

I think the bird bands are super cool. I dug one a couple of weeks ago with the leg bone still in it.

Well pilgrim,, did it taste like chicken? lol

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Nice old buckle find, your persistence detecting paid off!

Congratualtions!

 

[treblehunter]

I love the bird band, I have found three, but nothing even close to being old like that. Very cool.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Great finds!

 

[BTV Digger]

Nice finds and congrats on the older bird band. Never found one of those myself.

John

 

[Diggin Dude]

Great finds, old buckle frame is cool. That bird band is awesome, I've found a couple in the past but not that old. WTG! Congrats and HH

 

[highnam]

Dang, I would think that 1918 bird band is a rare antique from the beginning of the bird banding as we know today...have you tried to access a database that would identify the bird? Also, bird bands today do not carry the date on them, you have to call in the # to get species info and date of banding.
Curious to learn more about your band.

 

[against the wind]

Dang, I would think that 1918 bird band is a rare antique from the beginning of the bird banding as we know today...have you tried to access a database that would identify the bird? Also, bird bands today do not carry the date on them, you have to call in the # to get species info and date of banding.
Curious to learn more about your band.

There are many different breeds of pigeons. The band that I recovered is a "Homing Pigeon" band that belonged to a bird fancier who belonged to a racing club. This particular Homer probably fell victim to the "Falcon Menu"
I flew "Birds" back in the day. We had Flights, Baldies, Tiplets, and White Sides. You could always order custom bands that the squab would be banded with,, shortly after hatching. Those bands always came with a year stamped on them along with your initials or Loft / Coop name. The band that I recovered is an official band of the American Racing Pigeon Union.
The U.S. Army Signal Corps as well as the U.S. Navy, used carrier pigeons in both WW I and WW II. Their use was discontinued by the military in 1957.
The band I recovered has the following Letters and Numbers.
AU 18 E 1216
AU stands for the American Racing Pigeon Union
18 is the year that the pigeon was banded.
E is the registered club code.
1216 is the individual bird serial number.
I sent an email to the American Racing Pigeon Union requesting any additional information they might have such as Loft I.D. and location. I hope that they respond. I find this to be quite interesting.

 

[highnam]

Thanks for the info. Very interesting...
congrats on a nearly 100 y/o find....I would be thrilled. Good luck with the additional info you requested.

 

[deershed]

Nice finds but, I really like that bird band. Congrats!!
That was some interesting info. you gave on the bands too.

 

[Trezurehunter]

I like that bird band ATW. Those are always a nice find.

 

[port ewen ace]

most of the bands I dig are marked NPA, SBPA, MLF, Greek Delta (triangle), & AU. solid ring, riveted & crimp or folding tongue. these are in past 2 months at the Colonial farm.