Bird Banding Laboratory History

By Bird Banding Laboratory

The U.S. Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) has had a long and rich history beginning with its founding in 1920 by the visionary Frederick C. Lincoln.

Frederick Lincoln at desk — Lincoln was an accomplished biologist, administrator and writer. (Public domain.)

During the 1920s, Lincoln laid the foundation for the banding program and established many principles, procedures, and policies that stand today. He also led the banding lab and nurtured the banding program through the 1930s and most of the 1940s when economic depression and war made for difficult times in the United States. From 1947 to 2002, the five BBL "Chiefs" who followed Lincoln led BBL to further achievements and service to the banding community. In every decade of its existence, BBL has had to attend to practical matters such as issuing permits, supplying bands, and managing records while adapting to programmatic changes in the field of avian research and management.

To read more:

The North American Bird Banding Program: Into the 21st Century Executive Summary By P.A. Buckley et al. (1995)
A History of the Bird Banding Laboratory: 1920-2002
Historical Banding Notes since 1922 (Memos to All Banders)