Banding and Encounter Data Requests Active

To request bird banding and encounter data, please use the following tools: 

Bander Portal Data Request: This system allows you to retrieve small to moderate amounts of data for particular species, time periods, and specific geographic areas. If you wish to retrieve large portions of the BBL data set, then you will want to use the BBL ScienceBase option instead. You will need to log into the Bander Portal to access the Data request feature. If you do not have an account, you can create one. You do not have to be a bander to create an account.

BBL ScienceBase Site: The entire BBL data set, from 1960 to present, is accessible through ScienceBase. This is one of our regularly published datasets. Most visitors there should choose the most recent release because it includes all available data. Historic data releases are also available that will allow researchers to access legacy BBL datasets that they may have used in earlier analyses.

If you are unable to find the data you are looking for above, and need more specific banding and encounter data, you can request it from the BBL. A request for data should include:

• Your contact information (a valid email address and daytime phone number)
• Justification for requesting data
• Description of the data needed (e.g. species, group of species, locations, dates, etc.)
• (if you are a bander) permit name and permit number

In the U.S., send your request to:

   Matthew Rogosky at mrogosky@usgs.gov

In Canada, please visit BBO website 

Once the request is received at the BBL, allow 3 - 6 weeks to receive the data (it usually takes less time). We will include our Policy for Release and Use of Banding and Encounter Data.

Please consult the Banding data codes and Encounter data codes pages for descriptions of coded fields in the data. Data files may contain codes that are now considered obsolete, however, description of these codes are also included on the aforementioned pages.

Data retrieved directly from the BBL database should be cited as follows:

USGS Bird Banding Laboratory. <year>. North American bird banding and band encounter data set. U.S. Geological Survey, Laurel, MD. <date data file was created>. (The create date of the file is typically embedded in the file name.)

Because the BBL database is being constantly updated, the date each request was created is important and should be provided to the recipient and included in the citation.