Bird Banding Information

Bird banding is a way of identifying a bird by placing a thin leather, plastic or metal band around the bird's leg. Usually the band is made of lightweight metal and has a number or identifying marker etched into it. Bird banding has been used ever since people first started training falcons, pigeons, parrots and other birds for hunting, communications or entertainment. Soon scientists began banding birds for scientific studies.

  1. History

    • Among the earliest uses of banding was the practice among European falconers of attaching leather bands with identifying markings on them to the legs of their falcons and hawks. Approximately 300 years ago, bird banding became a way of keeping track of bird migrations as well as changes in weight, health and other physical aspects of birds.

    Purpose

    • Birds may be banded for many reasons. A metal band is often attached to larger pet birds for easy identification in the event of recapture following inadvertent release. Information provided by bands on recaptured wild birds helps track population levels of a species; may be a factor in regulations pertaining to hunting and trapping; and may be useful in considerations of potentially harmful environmental hazards.

    How It's Done

    • Birds must first be captured to be banded---unless they are pet birds raised from fledglings. Most organizations that band birds set up traps that will not harm the birds. The most common type of trap is a mist net, a very fine net that birds cannot see. Professional bird banders retrieve the birds from the traps, band them, record all required information and release the birds. When a captured bird has been previously banded, information on the band may be checked against records of its previous capture and release to document its movement.

    Environmental Impact

    • Banding has no known negative impact on individual birds. The bands are very lightweight and birds are not harmed during capture and banding. Without banding, the population and life span of birds, as well as the impact of pesticides, hunting and development would not be determinable.

    Training

    • Scientific researchers in the academic community and those employed by government agencies conduct most bird banding. Any person employed to band birds must provide documentation of required training. Such training is often acquired by completing an apprenticeship through which the trainee works with a licensed bird bander to obtain credentials.