Hello Melissa,
Just a thought, but how about using a tissue marking dye such as the ones we
use to mark surgical margins before processing tissue. They are available
from a number of sources and withstand alcohol's and xylene, so water should
be no problem. 
Keep us posted!
Mary Georger
University of Rochester Center for cardiovascular Research
> ----------
> From: 	Bruce Abaloz
> Sent: 	Thursday, July 19, 2001 10:18 PM
> To: 	histoNet@Pathology.swmed.edu
> Cc: 	m.giese@unimelb.edu.au
> Subject: 	Plummage Dye - DownUnder?!?!
> 
> Dear Histonetters,
> 
> My name is Melissa, and I'm a researcher at the University of
> Melbourne,Australia, with a novel problem.  We need to colour-mark
> seabirds (specifically gannets), with a plumage dye that will last 4-6
> months, and withstand regular dunking in sea water whenever the birds are
> foraging. We want to apply the dye just once (no touch ups) at the
> beginning of the breeding season to minimise disturbance to the birds.
> Dye colour is not an issue, so long as it's readily visible against white
> plumage (so darker colours would be best).
> 
> Many thanks in advance for your help!
> 
> cheers,
> Melissa.
> 
> BRUCE ABALOZ
> HISTOLOGIST		      
> DEPARTMENT of ZOOLOGY	           *  PH:    +61 3 83446282
> The UNIVERSITY of MELBOURNE        *  FAX:   +61 3 83447909 
> Parkville, Victoria.3010           *  EMAIL:
> b.abaloz@zoology.unimelb.edu.au
> 
> AUSTRALIA.
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