Banding birds is a process of capturing wild birds, usually using a mist net
or baited live trap. The birds are then fitted with a numbered leg band
and released in the same location. The band number on the leg band is that bird's unique identification number.
Banding birds in the United States is governed by the Migratory Bird Treaty
Act and requires a federal (and sometimes a state) banding permit. Only official
federally-issued bands may be legally placed on birds that are released to the
wild within the United States.
Every one of the approximately 2000 banders in the United States participates
in the study of dispersal and migration. It is a requirement of a banding
permit that all banders send their data to a central site. In the United
States, the Bird Banding Laboratory at Patuxent, Maryland, is the central
database for banding data. Canadian and European banders (called ringers) submit
their data to their appropriate central organizations. Movements of individual
birds, in addition to other information, can be plotted when a bird is captured,
banded, and recaptured by another bander, or the band reported to the Banding
Laboratory.
Banding birds has enabled us to discover that some species go south in one
pathway and return north by another pathway. The nesting and wintering grounds
have been located for some species. For others, specific nesting grounds
have been connected to specific wintering areas. In addition to migratory
movements and nesting grounds, the process of banding itself (i.e. having a bird
in the hand) has provided much information about individual species, molts,
longevity, parasites and diseases, breeding and survivorship, and more.
Banders follow a strict code of ethics, and the safety and well-being of the
bird is always the first priority.
The Changing Focus of Bird Banding
 The earliest banding studies were largely focused on migration routes and
other aspects of seasonal migrations. Today, although migration studies
are ongoing, banders contribute important data to a much broader range of study.
The information collected during the banding process and the data compiled
from banded birds across the continents contribute important information on
avian behavior and ecology; populations and survivorship; the status of
threatened and/or endangered species; assessments of the effects of
environmental disturbances; public education concerning the environment, habitat
conservation and land-use management issues.
In addition, banding data is helping to address human/avian health, safety
and economy issues, and such media-intense topics as West Nile virus and avian
influenza. Banding data also helps in the analysis of the hazards
presented by birds congregating at airports, and damage to agricultural
interests.
Banding data has spurned the creation and support of various conservation
programs, such as the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and Partners in
Flight. |
