Bird Bander

I'm a bird bander. It's probably important to know about me, because it'll come up now again, here on the blog or in normal conversation.

I am authorized by the Bird Banding Laboratory--in Laurel, Maryland, and currently within the US Geological Survey--to affix uniquely-numbered aluminum bands to the tarsi (the part of the leg above the foot) of most North American species of birds. Banding enables researchers to re-identify individuals themselves and--with the help of other biologists and the general public--to find even those birds that have flown halfway around the globe from where they were originally captured.

A Master Permit for banding birds has become increasingly difficult to come by in recent years (though there are many of us out there). The criteria for obtaining a permit include 1) a need, that is, a particular research project or question that would require or be augmented by the kind of information that banding provides, 2) demonstrated capability at identifying, ageing, and sexing the species of birds one might capture, and 3) organizational skills (to deal effectively with the potentially vast amount of data that needs to be reported). To obtain a permit today requires having favorable references from three individuals who already hold Master Permits. Additional permits are required for banding special birds, such as endangered and threatened species.

The sort of information obtained through banding (which is called "ringing" in Great Britain) includes site fidelity, migration patterns, turnover rates, dispersal distances, and longevity. From time-to-time, I'll probably share some interesting stories (from my own and other avian research) that has to do with this integral part of bird research.

Should you ever find a banded bird (pigeons don't count--that's a different band system used by racers of homing pigeons), record the number and contact the Bird Banding Lab.