In a 1995 trial, equal samples of Mallards were banded with bands bearing the 1-800 number and bands bearing a conventional reporting address. Results indicated that the 1-800 number on the band prompted a significantly higher band reporting rate from the general public. The operators taking the reports enter them directly into a database where they can be edited prior to processing. Previously, most reports came via mail and were coded for entry into the database. While all agree that this toll-free number has increased the band reporting rate, no one is certain exactly how much the rate has increased.
Studies are ongoing to determine how much the band reporting rate has increased substantially.
Higher reporting rates allow biologists to calculate more accurate estimates of survival rate and population size. The 1-800 number is now inscribed on all band sizes. The New Database Programming is underway on a new database to replace all the current functions which were designed for inhouse, batch processing to a hierarchical database utilizing an HP 3000 Minicomputer. This new system is hoped to be ready to replace the minicomputer in 2001. The new database will be a client-server system with a relational database and new programs to track band orders, issues, data, permits, etc.