What functions are available in the Bander Portal for bird banders?
Use the Bander Portal to:
- View and update your contact information,
- List subpermittees, band inventory, and locations associated with your permit,
- Order bands and confirm bands as received,
- Request transferral of bands TO your permit or FROM your permit to another permit,
- Define which menu options subpermitees have permission to access,
- View tables of valid codes for various banding data fields (e.g. age, sex, etc.) and recommended band sizes by species.
Related Content
How can I get bird banding and encounter data from the Bird Banding Laboratory?
Banding and encounter data are available for research purposes. Individual banding data records exist electronically starting in 1960. Pre-1960 banding data are available only for birds that have been encountered. Individual encounter data are available from 1913. To make a data request go to the Banding and Encounter Data page .
I have a federal permit to band birds. How do I order bands?
If you already have a federal permit or sub permit to band birds, sign in to the Bander Portal to order bands and/or confirm bands as received.
How do I submit bird banding and/or bird recapture data?
Bird banding and band recapture data from banding activities must be submitted to the Bird Banding Laboratory using Bandit, The Information Manager for Banding Operations . Bandit is desktop software (not a website) that must be downloaded to your computer. The software is available for both PCs and Macs.
How do I renew or modify my existing federal bird banding permit?
To renew or make changes to existing bird banding permits, use the links below: ● Request a sub-permit ● Change in the responsible individual for a Master Station Banding Permit ● Permit inactivation ● Permit reactivation ● Renew your permit ● Request color and auxiliary marking permission Additional information is on the General Permit...
How do I obtain a federal bird banding permit?
A Federal Bird Banding and Marking Permit is required whenever someone wants to place a bird band or any type of marker on a wild bird that is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act or on a federally-protected bird that will be released into the wild. To obtain a permit, visit the General Permit Information webpage of the Bird Banding...
What are the ethics and responsibilities of Bird Banders?
Bird banding has long been recognized as an important research tool that has substantially improved our understanding of many aspects of avian biology and provided critical information for the management and conservation of bird populations. It is normally safe when proper techniques and equipment are carefully employed by trained banders who...
Does banding hurt birds?
No, banding does not hurt birds. When proper techniques and equipment are carefully employed, it’s a safe procedure for birds. Trained banders, who apply their expertise and thoughtfulness towards the health and well-being of the birds, follow strict procedures based on the Bander’s ethic code .
How do I get a certificate of appreciation after reporting a banded bird?
Certificates of appreciation are given to people who have found birds with leg bands or color markers and reported them to the Bird Banding Laboratory through their " Report a bird with a federal band or color marker " website. Certificates are automatically generated when you report a bird and can be downloaded immediately after your report is...
Who can band birds?
Because banding birds requires capturing the birds and handling them before the banding takes place, the banding of birds in the United States is controlled under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and requires a federal banding permit. Some states require a state permit as well. Only official federal bands can be legally placed on birds that are...
I found (or killed) a bird with a band or color marker around its leg. What do I do?
Bird band information is an important tool that is used to monitor populations, set hunting regulations, restore endangered species, study effects of environmental contaminants, and address such issues as Avian Influenza, bird hazards at airports, and crop depredations. The North American Bird Banding Program is jointly administered by the U.S...
Year Published: 2013
The U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory: an integrated scientific program supporting research and conservation of North American birds
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) was established in 1920 after ratification of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act with the United Kingdom in 1918. During World War II, the BBL was moved from Washington, D.C., to what is now the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (PWRC). The BBL issues permits and bands to permittees...
Smith, Gregory J.View Citation
The U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory: an integrated scientific program supporting research and conservation of North American birds; 2013; OFR; 2013-1238; Smith, Gregory J.
March 5, 2018
Resources for Banders
Resources for Banders
Attribution: Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
May 20, 2017
CAGO with Leg Band and Neck Collar
Canada Goose with Leg Band and Neck Collar
Attribution: Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Students recording bird band recovery records
Students Anaga Nmagu and Danielle Travers, hired with ARRA funds, are converting more than one million hand-written bird band recovery records into digital format at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Once digitized, these invaluable recovery records will be linked to the Bird Banding Laboratory's new Oracle database for easy access by researchers and managers
...
Banding a Northern Parula
Placing a federal band in a Northern Parula
Attribution: Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Banded Brown Pelican legs
Aluminum band and one plastic colored leg bands in a Brown Pelican
Attribution: Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
April 11, 2018
BBL Bandit User Manual
Bandit is the latest in a series of programs aimed at helping bird banders manage and submit their data for
banded birds. We have tried to make the process of maintaining banding records as simple as possible.
Bandit was created by the Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) at the U. S. Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife
Research Center, Laurel, Maryland.
Attribution: Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
