are about 3,000 recovery records annually with a total of 160,000 to date. There are 68 registered banders and banding groups.

### 2. Result of Banding Research

### 2.1 Overview of New Banding and Recoveries

A total of 2.4 million birds of 409 species have been banded in Japan, with 15,738 recovery records of 195 species, in 35 years from 1961 to 1995 (excludes undefined species, hybrids and pet birds gone wild). Of these recoveries, significant recoveries (5km or more from the banding site) are 14,392 of 176 species. Short-term recoveries with time intervals of less than 6 months are 4,911 of 132 species.

### 2.2 Analysis of Recovery Data

## a Recovery Records by Species

Birds banded and recovered in Japan (11,758 of 145 species) account for 81.7% of the significant recoveries to date. Birds banded in Japan and recovered abroad totaled 2,250 records (15.6%) of 65 species, while birds banded abroad and recovered in Japan were 311 records (2.2%) of 48 species. 73 recoveries (0.5%) of 19 species birds were banded and recovered abroad. Pintail Anas acuta, with 5,635 recoveries (39.1%) was the most frequently recovered species, followed by 2,806 of Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus (19.5%). Annual significant recoveries are increasing year by year. There were 1,008 significant recoveries in 1994.

## b Recovery Data by Method

Over a period of 35 years, the largest part of significant recoveries is made by recapture of banded birds during banding research with 4,020 records (44.5%). Recovery of rings from birds taken by hunters accounted for 3,250 records (35.9%) and recovery of rings from dead birds accounted for 1,282 records (14.2%). Others including source-unknown recoveries were 490 records (5.4%).

## c Number of Recoveries and Recovery Rate by Order

Among the significant recoveries of birds banded in Japan, Anseriformes with 6,943 records of 19 species was the most frequently recovered order, followed by Passeriformes with 5,311 records of 62 species, and Charadriiformes with 989 records of 27 species. The highest recovery rate was also Anseriformes with 7.16%, followed by Podicipediformes with 2.63%, Falconiformes with 1.94%, and Pelecaniformes with 1.76%. Hunting is assumed to be the cause of the high recovery rate of Anseriformes.

## d Longevities

Longevity records, defined as recaptures five years or more after banding, were recorded for 108 species. The longest record for each species are shown in Table 2-3. The longest record of all was 26 years 5 months for a Laysan Albatross Diomedea immutabilis, followed by Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas, Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata, Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris, and for Rhinoceros Auklet Cerorhinca monocerata, all of which recorded longer than 20 years. The longest record of passerines were 11 years 0 months for a Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus, followed by 10 years 0 months for a Reed Bunting E.schoeniclus. Most records for passerines were 5 to 8 years.

### 2.3 Regional Analysis

## a Domestic Recoveries

For the period from 1961 to 1995, Chiba recorded the highest number (3,222 recoveries (26.8%)) of significant recoveries out of all 47 prefectures, followed by Saitama with 1,479 recoveries (12.3%). These two prefectures have Imperial Wild