Not strange at all Anthony, that is a standard US Fish and Wildlife
Service band.  The "open" means that if the bird was found dead, open
the band up and on the inside is the address of where to send it.  I've
always thought this was a bit silly, as I do not think it is very clear
that "open" means that, but that's the way it is done.  If you take the
number off the band, and go to the Bird Banding Lab webpage (search and
you will quickly find it), there is a "report a band" link and they will
get back to you with the info as to where the bird was originally
banded.  Hope that helps

Cheers
Dave Lauten
Oregon Biodiversity Information Center
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Anthony Levesque wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> yesterday night we caught a banded Sandpiper in Guadeloupe (French West Indies) but we have no idea of its origin...
>
> on the (metal) band we can read "ABRE" "OPEN" and a number, a strange band...
>
> Is somebody can help us? it would be very much appreciated
>
> Best Regards
>
> Anthony Levesque
>
>
>