Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

This study is designed to determine answers to many questions relative to management of Chukar populations, especially whether guzzlers (surface water) enhance or increase the number of birds in an area.

How can you help?

A major part of this study involves the placement of unique colored and/or aluminum bands on the legs of birds so that they can be photographed, and individually identified, at guzzlers. Additional birds are also wearing radio-transmitter backpacks.

You can help by recording banding and location information on birds you might harvest. Pay close attention to the band color scheme and which colors are on the bottom and top of each leg. If you harvest a banded bird, please return the bands as outlined below. Also, if you harvest a Chukar that has a radio transmitter attached, please return the transmitter as outlined below.

Data needed on banded and transmittered Chukars:

For bands, please return them. Please record the color of the bands on the bird's right leg and the bird's left leg, starting from the bottom (e.g., right leg: red, then yellow; left leg: white, then blue). Again, recording from the bottom of each leg and then up.

For transmitters, please return them. Each transmitter has a unique identifying number on it related to the bird that it was attached to.

The date and time the bird was taken, the collector's name and phone number, and GPS coordinates would be extremely helpful to the study. If you cannot collect GPS coordinates, then a verbal location description will suffice.

If you will call or email the following individuals, we can arrange for pickup of bands and transmitters and any data that you may collect:

Dean Mitchell, UDWR Upland Game Program Coordinator. (801) 538-4786. DeanMitchell@utah.gov
Randy Larsen, USU Graduate Student, Study Coordinator. (801) 361-7692. randylarsen@cc.usu.edu

Thanks for your help!