R657-20-23. Banding or Tagging Raptors Used in Falconry

  (1)(a) A falconer who has captured or acquired a wild Northern Goshawk, wild Harris's hawk, wild Peregrine Falcon, or wild Gyrfalcon must band the raptor with a permanent, nonreusable, black-colored numbered Service leg band.

  (b) A falconer must contact the Division for information on obtaining and disposing of bands.

  (c) In addition to banding the raptor, a falconer may also purchase and implant an ISO (International Organization for Standardization)-compliant (1234.2 kHz) implantable microchip.

  (d) New and replacement band or any required microchip information must be reported to the Division pursuant to Section R657-20-21.

  (2)(a) Raptors bred in captivity must be banded with a Service seamless metal band described in 50 CFR 21 Section 21.30, or plastic, numbered Service yellow band.

  (b) Unbanded raptors, or black, or yellow banded raptors may not be sold, traded or bartered in any way.

  (c) In addition to banding the raptor, a falconer may also purchase and implant an ISO (International Organization for Standardization)-compliant (1234.2 kHz) implantable microchip.

  (d) Removal or loss of a seamless band must be reported to the Division within 10 business days of the event and a replacement non-reusable band attached to the raptor.

  (e) New and replacement band or any required microchip information must be reported to the Division pursuant to Section R657-20-21.

  (3)(a) In the event a non-reusable band is removed or lost from a banded raptor, the removal or loss of the band must be reported to the Division pursuant to Section R657-20-21 and a replacement band requested.

  (b) Immediately upon rebanding the raptor, the required information must be submitted to the Division pursuant to Section R657-20-21.

  (4) A band may not be altered, defaced, or counterfeited.

  (5)(a) Exemptions for banding of raptors will be considered on a case-by-case basis if there are documented health or injury problems for a raptor that are caused by the band.

  (b) A copy of the exemption paperwork must be kept by the permittee when transporting or flying the raptor.

  (c) If the raptor is a wild northern goshawk, wild Harris's hawk, wild peregrine falcon, or wild gyrfalcon, the band may be replaced with an ISO-compliant microchip.

  (d) Substituting a microchip for a band on a wild Goshawk, wild Harris's Hawk, wild Peregrine Falcon, or wild Gyrfalcon will not be authorized unless it has been demonstrated that a band causes an injury or a health problem for the raptor.