Duck Banding To Start In Shark River Park

The state Division of Fish and Wildlife will be catching and marking ducks throughout Shark River Park, beginning the first of the year, police said Monday.

Officers with the division will be trapping and marking ducks, specifically the American black duck, with legbands. The banding program is part of a nationwide monitoring of migratory game birds, Sgt. Erik Ertle said.

The ducks are caught, banded and released immediately in most cases. Some, however can be held in crates overnight and released within 12 hours, Ertle said.

Traps, which are visited daily by fish and wildlife officers, will be marked and identify its purpose. The trapping period normally winds down in February, Ertle said.