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How banders do their job.

Images

A female (brown and red) Northern Cardinal being held by a bander and receiving a bird band on the leg
Female Northern Cardinal banded at the USGS Bird Banding Lab
Female Northern Cardinal banded at the USGS Bird Banding Lab
Female Northern Cardinal banded at the USGS Bird Banding Lab

Female Northern Cardinal banded at the USGS Bird Banding Lab banding station, fall 2024

Female Northern Cardinal banded at the USGS Bird Banding Lab banding station, fall 2024

a small bird held gently in the hand, the body is green-gray, and the back of the head has an orange and yellow crest
Golden-crowned Kinglet crown
Golden-crowned Kinglet crown
Golden-crowned Kinglet crown

One can really see how a Golden-crowned Kinglet got their name! This bird was handled and marked at the EESC Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station. 

One can really see how a Golden-crowned Kinglet got their name! This bird was handled and marked at the EESC Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station. 

A small round bird in the hand, with mottled brown and white feathers
Winter Wren in the hand
Winter Wren in the hand
Winter Wren in the hand

These tiny balls of energy are sometimes referred to as mice with the way they scurry around the forest floor. During the breeding season, males will sing one of the more complex songs out of North American bird species. Each song lasts 5-10 seconds and consists of unique bubbly notes which the individual will combine and modify over time.  

These tiny balls of energy are sometimes referred to as mice with the way they scurry around the forest floor. During the breeding season, males will sing one of the more complex songs out of North American bird species. Each song lasts 5-10 seconds and consists of unique bubbly notes which the individual will combine and modify over time.  

a collage of 8 different sparrow species
Sparrows of the Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station
Sparrows of the Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station
Sparrows of the Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station

The sparrows pictured here represent the main sparrow species the EESC Bird Banding Lab’s Fall Migration Station sees each year. And last year, the White-throated Sparrow was the most numerous species banded at the station.

The sparrows pictured here represent the main sparrow species the EESC Bird Banding Lab’s Fall Migration Station sees each year. And last year, the White-throated Sparrow was the most numerous species banded at the station.

A brown bird in the hand, with a large bill
Hatch year Blue Grosbeak
Hatch year Blue Grosbeak
Hatch year Blue Grosbeak

What’s so cool about this bird? Check out that large seed-cracking, grasshopper-chomping bill, that helps us ID this as a Blue Grosbeak. Based on its plumage, the banders were able to determine this bird was born this year and was caught in the same net as two other young Blue Grosbeaks.

What’s so cool about this bird? Check out that large seed-cracking, grasshopper-chomping bill, that helps us ID this as a Blue Grosbeak. Based on its plumage, the banders were able to determine this bird was born this year and was caught in the same net as two other young Blue Grosbeaks.

A small yellow bird in the hand with gray spectacle looking pattern on the face
Prairie Warbler in the hand
Prairie Warbler in the hand
Prairie Warbler in the hand

In 2024, the long-term fall migration bird banding station at Patuxent Research Refuge had it's first Prairie Warbler since 2019!  

In 2024, the long-term fall migration bird banding station at Patuxent Research Refuge had it's first Prairie Warbler since 2019!  

Videos

Image of a group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions. The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions
The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions
a video title slide Bird Collisions: Current Science and Future Opportunities
Bird Collisions: Current Science and Future Opportunities
Bird Collisions: Current Science and Future Opportunities

The USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center Bird Banding Lab webinar on the threat of bird collisions, current science and future opportunities. It is estimated that over 1 billion birds are killed annually by collisions with glass every year in the United States.

The USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center Bird Banding Lab webinar on the threat of bird collisions, current science and future opportunities. It is estimated that over 1 billion birds are killed annually by collisions with glass every year in the United States.

A title slide icon with a magnifying glass looking at a bird above the title Bander Portal: Database Services
Bander Portal: Database Services
Bander Portal: Database Services

A video tutorial series on the Database Services features in the Bander Portal (permitted bander access).

A video tutorial series on the Database Services features in the Bander Portal (permitted bander access).

A title slide icon with a paper airplane bird above the title Bander Portal: Data Submission Part 2 Upload, Review, and Submit
Bander Portal: Data Submission Part 2 Upload, Review, and Submit
Bander Portal: Data Submission Part 2 Upload, Review, and Submit

Part 2 of the video tutorial series on the Data Submission features in the Bander Portal (permitted bander access). This video will focus on the data upload, review, and submission features.

Part 2 of the video tutorial series on the Data Submission features in the Bander Portal (permitted bander access). This video will focus on the data upload, review, and submission features.

A title slide icon with a paper airplane bird above the title Bander Portal: Data Submission Part 1 — Data Template
Bander Portal: Data Submission Part 1 — Data Template
Bander Portal: Data Submission Part 1 — Data Template

Part 1 of the video tutorial series on the Data Submission features in the Bander Portal (permitted bander access). This video will focus on the data template.

  • Introduction to Data Submission (00:55)
  • Data File Template and Instructions (02:33)
  • Navigating the Template (04:13)
  • Entering Data (04:48)

 

Part 1 of the video tutorial series on the Data Submission features in the Bander Portal (permitted bander access). This video will focus on the data template.

  • Introduction to Data Submission (00:55)
  • Data File Template and Instructions (02:33)
  • Navigating the Template (04:13)
  • Entering Data (04:48)

 

A title slide icon with an inventory clipboard above the title Bander Portal: Band Inventory
Bander Portal: Band Inventory
Bander Portal: Band Inventory

A video tutorial of the Band Inventory features in the Bander Portal (permitted bander access).

A video tutorial of the Band Inventory features in the Bander Portal (permitted bander access).

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