Last of the Eastern Screech-Owls

I took this photo on yesterday. I believe it is of one of the last remaining Eastern Screech-owls in the lower part of Central Park. The top photo shows the owl preening but what interested me was the pinkish wisp of something sticking out from the owl's breast. Below is a close-up of that "something" and a close-up of a band on the bird's left leg.

It looks to me like a shredded tag used to identify the owl but it has been suggested it could be a feather stained this color by the blood of some prey.

If anyone knows what this is could they let me know. My e-mail is over on the left.

I also noticed a metal band on the owl's left leg but could not get a clear shot of it so I do not know what it said. I think I see a "60" and "AN" but there is obviously more. See what you think.

It's sad but it looks like we are down to only a couple of Eastern-screech Owls in the park. They gave us great pleasure but perhaps they were not meant to inhabit Central Park--at least the way it is currently configured.

After hearing how the owl on the Park West drive out of the nest and right smack dab into an oncoming car it makes sense to me. These owls have great eyesight but they lack peripheral vision. They can fly from point A to point B at night avoiding all the obstacles in their way but if something comes along from the side and smacks into them they are done for.

Close-up of "something" on the owl's breast and band on left leg.