Auxiliary Markers

USGS researchers are collaborating with partners around the globe to leverage new and existing telemetry data to answer broad scale questions about factors influencing avian movement and migration.

The Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) will authorize the use auxiliary markers for projects that are well defined, set to be conducted, and have a start date within one year of the date the proposal is submitted. Note that a bander must have experience (or completed sufficient training) with the proposed auxiliary marking technique before the authorization will be granted.

Banders should plan ahead for the next season's field work. Requesting changes to an existing permit, such as adding or removing authorizations must be made in advance of banding activities. Please fill out the Additional Authorization Request Checklist and provide all the necessary information required for each type of authorization. Allow at least 8 weeks for the BBL to process your request...

Many researchers use other auxiliary (color leg bands, neck collars, radio transmitters, flags and tags) markers along with federal bands to allow them to identify an individual bird at a distance. To use any of these auxiliary markers researchers need to have federal banding permits and additional marking authorization. See examples of common auxiliary markers below.