Wild bird banding is controlled under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and requires a federal banding permit. You won't likely be able to read it even with binoculars. Most bands are reported when they are found on dead birds, or recorded upon recapture.
Here is a good website to learn about bird banding. I will have to look, and find out why this bird has two.
BlueBars

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/

Hi, there is a person in your state that bands bluebirds if i am correct your home state is MA The women can be reached at nsoulette@aol.com
Her name is Nancy and bands a good volume of bluebirds there I told her i
would look out for them here in Rhode Island but have never seen a banded
bluebird in 20 years. If you cannot reach her via the email I have her phone
number as well just email me if needed and i will pass her number to you
rmarr2@cox.net
Ray

Thanks for your replies, yes Rayinri, I live in Massachusetts, metro-west area of Boston. I sent an email to Nancy at the email address above from my yahoo account including a link to this thread. I am very curious about the background of this bird.

I had a banded Cardinal a couple years back, with only one band on his leg, but he didn't come around for too long as I recall.

I think Nancy lives just west of Boston and north of me The area code is 781
NJ bands with purple bands and I know the two people that band there. Red
bands are used in PA. They band martins at Parker River but there are no Bluebirds that nest there. The person that did it knows what there doing
Its not easy to get a permit to band these birds I have tried for years since
I manage both Bluebirds/Martins here. I would love to Band. Possible that
bird maybe from NY Or VT. Maybe banded by the Fish and wildlife personal
Banding is just not popular here in NE like it is in southern states. Best of luck and let of know what happens....

Hi, just a quick update. It turns out that Nancy conducted a Bluebird banding project in a neighboring town. She has identified this bird as one she banded from her first group of nestlings in the summer of 2007. He is #2 and is about 1 1/2 years old. She was excited that I contacted her and happy to hear that #2 is doing well. She has graciously offered to send me a copy of the report from the project, which coincidentally has a picture of #2 in the report.

I've seen him every day on the suet log since Sunday, Dec 28th, the first time I noticed him. I told her I'd keep an eye for him, and keep her posted about how he's doing.

Thanks for all the help in tracking down this bird's identity!

Great news! I always had the feeling that any birds i see at my box's in Feb
are just my birds that have wintered here. The older birds stay behind and young birds migrate should be have a harsh winter these older birds perish
and are replaced by young birds. Good numbers by pass my area so central
and northern NE has a healthy population of Bluebirds. Its great to see them
moving north in the spring and south in the fall.

Hi Ray, I have no idea who migrates or does what, all I know is that each winter I see a couple more Blues at the suet log than the previous winter.

Also meant to add to my post this morning, the explanation for why this bird has 2 bands. Here is what Nancy wrote -

"If I am seeing the colors correctly, he has a silver band (the regular type of BBL band) on his left leg and a white plastic band on his right leg...My report will explain my color banding system (nothing to do with the state I have banded in--merely unique color combinations representing unique numbers so I can identify individuals in my study at a distance just as you did)."

Here is another picture of the bands, you can see the detail a little more clearly -

{{!gwi}}

I wish could feed my birds but I live 10 miles away in the city my trail is in the
town of Smithfiled I live in Pawtucket. Just today i seen four along the highway
in Smithfield feeding on berries. Many small flocks feed along 295 which runs
north to south here in RI. I feel so bad to see my birds stressed and hungry
but I just cannot afford running back and forth in the winter like i do in the breeding season. Late winter snow storms cause the biggest loss because the
food supply's are depleted. Your doing a great job feeding and saving many bluebirds that would other wise starve in a harsh winter.

hi,I am new here and enjoying the bluebird forum.
Can you please tell me how you make your suet
peanut butter mixture?
Thank You

mimilm,

here's a web site with lots of recipes. I make "Malinda's" recipe near bottom of page. The blues here eat it all winter. It's easy to make. Good luck!

http://www.sialis.org/suet.htm