Section 1590.82  Banding Requirements – Falconry Raptors

a)         Every raptor possessed under authority of an Illinois falconry permit must be identified by a band within 5 days after acquisition of the raptor.  A seamless numbered band may not be placed on a wild raptor but must be placed on a captive-reared raptor in accordance with Section 1580.85(a)(2).  A seamless band may not be placed on a wild raptor.  If a marker or band must be removed or is lost, the loss must be reported within 5 days and the permittee must request a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service nonreusable band from the Department.  The required information must be submitted within 10 days after rebanding the raptor at https://epermits.fws.gov/falcp and by submitting a form 3-186A to the Department.  The marker or band must be replaced by a marker or bank provided by the Department.  An ISO (International Organization for Standardization) compliant (134.2kHz) microchip may be implanted in a falconry raptor in addition to the band.

b)         A marker or band must not be altered, defaced or counterfeited.  The rear tab from a band on a raptor taken from the wild may be removed and any imperfect surface may be smoothed as long as the integrity of the marker or band and numbering on it is not affected.

c)         If health or injury problems are detected in a raptor due to the band, then a falconer can apply to the Department for an exemption to the banding requirement by a written letter and photographs, describing the history of the injury or health problem.  If an exemption is granted, then the band must be replaced with an implanted ISO compliant (134.2 kHz) microchip.  If the bird is a wild goshawk, Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus), peregrine falcon, or gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), then the band must be replaced with an implanted ISO compliant microchip supplied by FWS and obtained from the Department.  FWS and the Department will not provide microchips for any other species.

(Source:  Amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 9659, effective August 23, 2019)