Bird Banding Laboratory
Science Center Objects
The Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) is an integrated scientific program established in 1920 supporting the collection, archiving, management and dissemination of information from banded and marked birds in North America. This information is used to monitor the status and trends of resident and migratory bird populations. Because birds are good indicators of the health of the environment, the status and trends of bird populations are critical for identifying and understanding many ecological issues and for developing effective science, management and conservation practices.
The BBL, since 1923 and in collaboration with the Bird Banding Office (BBO) of the Canadian Wildlife Service, administer the North American Bird Banding Program (NABBP), which manages more than 77 million archived banding records and more than 5 million records of encounters. In addition, each year approximately 1 million bands are shipped from the BBL to banders in the United States and Canada, and nearly 100,000 band encounter reports are submitted into the BBL systems.
Click here for more information about BBL operations and banding during the novel coronavirus pandemic
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: banded with federal leg band. (Credit: Ikumi Kayama, MA, Studio Kayama LLC. Limited Use by USGS only)
The U.S. Geological Survey is celebrating 100 years of the Bird Banding Laboratory.
The lab will be doing several events to celebrate the history and accomplishments of our first 100 years. To find out more about the centennial and upcoming events see below:
- Bird Banding Lab, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service—Centennial Presentation
- 100 Years of Service to Migratory Bird Conservation in North America
- USGS Celebrates 100 Years of Bird Banding Lab: A Century of Advancing Avian Conservation Science
- Friends of Patuxent & National Wildlife Federation presents: 100 Years of Bird Banding in America - History of Patuxent’s Bird Banding Lab
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Conservation Connect
- Birdwatchers’ digest
- Bird conservancy of the Rockies
- Federal News network
- BUneke.org
- Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
- Van Buren County Democrat
Please check back here for event updates and resources.
BBL Federal Permit
(Public domain.)
Federal Bird Banding and Marking Permit
Following the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and its associated Federal regulations (16 U.S.C. 703-712), a Federal Bird Banding and Marking Permit is required to conduct all bird banding and/or marking activities.
- Obtain a federal permit
- Renew your permit
- Modify your permit (including adding new subpermitees)
- Ethics and responsibilities of bird banders
Access to Bander Portal (Public domain.)
If you already have a federal permit or sub-permit to band birds, sign in to the new Bander Portal to do the following:
- View and update your contact information
- View your list of subpermittees, band inventory and banding locations
- Order bands from BBL, request bands transfer and confirm bands as received
- Define access to menu options for your subpermitees
- View tables of valid codes for various banding data fields (e.g. age, sex, etc.) and recommended band sizes by species
- Download your inventory
In the future, data will be submitted through the bander portal, but in the meantime use Bandit (The Information Manager for Banding Operations) to submit data.
Canada Goose with a Neck Collar and Federal Band (Courtesy: David Kacynski)
Reporting a bird with a federal band or auxillary marker
- Report a band at www.reportband.gov
- Obtain your Certificate of Appreciation
- About federal bands
- About auxiliary markers
- Issues reporting? Please email bandreports@usgs.gov
Fredrick C. Lincoln was an accomplished bird biologist and early bird bander (Public domain.)
Learn more about the BBL:
- Why do we band birds?
- Bird Banding at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
- Bird Banding Laboratory: Recent Accomplishments
- The U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory: An Integrated Scientific Program Supporting Research and Conservation of North American Birds By Gregory J. Smith (2013)
- The U.S. Geological Survey Report of the Federal Advisory Committee on the Bird Banding Laboratory By Susan D. Haseltine et al. (2008)
- 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)
Bird Banding Laboratory
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
12100 Beech Forest Road
Laurel, MD 20708
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Date published: May 13, 2021Status: ActivePacific Island Bird Survey Design and Data Analysis
Abundance data are collected for bird populations throughout the Pacific Islands by numerous federal, state, university, and non-profit organizations. In order to ensure data are standardized and available to researchers throughout the region, interagency bird databases have been created and continue to be used. These databases contain more than a million compiled, proofed, and standardized...
Contacts: Richard J Camp, Ph.D., Paul Banko, Ph.D. -
Date published: March 14, 2017Status: ActiveEvaluation of Potential Offshore Wind Projects in the Northeastern U.S. on Endangered Roseate Terns: Who is at Risk and When?
The Challenge: Terns in coastal areas of the Northeastern US likely will be impacted by construction and operation of offshore wind turbines. The “Cape Cod & Islands” (CCMA) area of Massachusetts is a particularly important area for the endangered Northwest Atlantic Roseate Tern (ROST) population as most ROSTs from throughout the breeding range (Nova Scotia to Long Island, New York)...
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Date published: November 21, 2016Status: ArchivedStatus and Breeding Ecology of the Arizona Grasshopper Sparrow
The Arizona Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum ammolegus) is a disjunct race that breeds in desert grasslands of southeastern Arizona, extreme southwestern New Mexico, and adjacent parts of northern Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico.
Contacts: Janet Ruth, Ph.D.Attribution: Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Fort Collins Science Center -
Date published: October 19, 2016Status: ActiveModeling Sex-specific Demographic Rates in Metapopulations
The Challenge: Research that integrates population dynamics and ecological studies is needed to identify the causal factors involved in population declines and viability. For highly mobile organisms such as birds, “between-patch” movements and the use of different geographic sites and habitats at various stages of the annual cycle can make it difficult to measure the effectiveness of “within-...
Contacts: Jeffrey Spendelow, Ph.D. -
Date published: August 11, 2016Status: ActiveAvian Studies
The marshes, floodplains, and riparian corridors (areas along streams and rivers) of the Bay-Delta are key wintering destinations for migratory waterbirds and serve as a crucial stopover on the Pacific Flyway (a major north-south route for birds, extending from Alaska to the tip of South America). The mosaic of wetland habitat types within the Bay-Delta is essential for the millions of...
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Date published: May 12, 2016Status: CompletedEvaluating ‘I‘iwi Responses to Nectar Availability and Habitat Quality
‘I‘iwi populations have severely declined in recent decades in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (HAVO) and elsewhere in the Hawaiian Islands due to the cumulative impacts of many invasive threats that have degraded habitats, disrupted food webs, competed for resources, depredated nests and birds, and transmitted diseases.
Contacts: Paul Banko, Ph.D.Attribution: Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
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Year Published: 2013The 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.Attribution: Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Ecosystems, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian, Bird Banding LaboratoryView CitationThe 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.
Biogeographical variation of plumage coloration in the sexually dichromatic Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens)
Plumage coloration in birds can be of major importance to mate selection, social signaling, or predator avoidance. Variations in plumage coloration related to sex, age class, or seasons have been widely studied, but the effect of other factors such as climate is less known. In this study, we examine how carotenoid-based plumage coloration and...
Gaudioso-Levita, Jacqueline M.; Hart, Patrick J.; Lapointe, Dennis; Veillet, Anne; Sebastian-Gonzalez, Esther Effects of surgically implanted transmitters on reproduction and survival in mallards
Abdominally implanted radiotransmitters have been widely used in studies of waterbird ecology; however, the longer handling times and invasiveness of surgical implantation raise important concerns about animal welfare and potential effects on data quality. Although it is difficult to assess effects of handling and marking wild animals by comparing...
Sheppard, Jennifer; Arnold, Todd W.; Amundson, Courtney L.; Klee, David Satellite-tagged osprey nearly sets longevity record and productivity response to initial captures
We equipped adult Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) from 24 nests in Oregon/Washington with satellite-tracked battery-powered radios, known as platform transmitter terminals (PTTs), in 1996–1999. These Ospreys from the lower Columbia River (river miles 76–286), and the Willamette Valley in western Oregon were part of a larger study of Osprey fall...
Henny, Charles J.; Martell, Mark S. Integrating Breeding Bird Survey and demographic data to estimate Wood Duck population size in the Atlantic Flyway
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) uses data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) to assist in monitoring and management of some migratory birds. However, BBS analyses provide indices of population change rather than estimates of population size, precluding their use in developing abundance-based objectives and limiting...
Zimmerman, Guthrie S.; Sauer, John R.; Boomer, G. Scott; Devers, Patrick K.; Garrettson, Pamela R. Species distribution models for a migratory bird based on citizen science and satellite tracking data
Species distribution models can provide critical baseline distribution information for the conservation of poorly understood species. Here, we compared the performance of band-tailed pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) species distribution models created using Maxent and derived from two separate presence-only occurrence data sources in New Mexico...
Coxen, Christopher L.; Frey, Jennifer K.; Carleton, Scott A.; Collins, Daniel P. Songbirds are resilient to hurricane disturbed habitats during spring migration
The Gulf of Mexico is a conspicuous feature of the Neotropical–Nearctic bird migration system. Traveling long distances across ecological barriers comes with considerable risks, and mortality associated with intercontinental migration may be substantial, including that caused by storms or other adverse weather events. However, little, if anything...
Lain, Emily; Zenzal, Theodore J.; Moore, Frank R.; Barrow, Wylie C.; Diehl, Robert H.
Monitoring breeding and migration of neotropical migratory birds at Point Loma, San Diego County, California, 5-year summary, 2011–15
Executive SummaryWe operated a bird banding station on the Point Loma peninsula in western San Diego County, California, during spring and summer from 2011 to 2015. The station was established in 2010 as part of a long-term monitoring program for neotropical migratory birds during spring migration and for breeding birds as part of the Monitoring...
Lynn, Suellen; Madden, Melanie C.; Kus, Barbara E. Full annual cycle climate change vulnerability assessment for migratory birds
Climate change is a serious challenge faced by all plant and animal species. Climate change vulnerability assessments (CCVAs) are one method to assess risk and are increasingly used as a tool to inform management plans. Migratory animals move across regions and continents during their annual cycles where they are exposed to diverse climatic...
Culp, Leah A.; Cohen, Emily B.; Scarpignato, Amy L.; Thogmartin, Wayne E.; Marra, Peter P. The American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) Working Group: 15 years of collaborative focal species research and management
The American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) Working Group formed spontaneously in 2001 as coastal waterbird biologists recognized the potential for American Oystercatchers to serve as focal species for collaborative research and management. Accomplishments over the past 15 years include the establishment of rangewide surveys, color-banding...
Simons, Theodore R. Aging and sexing guide to the forest birds of Hawai‘i Island
We banded birds in Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge from 2012 to 2016, collecting photographs of birds and making detailed observations on coloration, morphology, and molting patterns. While we believe the criteria in this guide are applicable to forest birds across Hawai’i Island, as well as on other Hawaiian islands for ‘Apapane, ‘I‘iwi,...
Paxton, Eben H.; McLaughlin, Rachelle; Levins, Stephanie; VanderWerf, Eric; Lancaster, Nolan Dynamic distributions and population declines of Golden-winged Warblers
With an estimated breeding population in 2010 of 383,000 pairs, the Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) is among the most vulnerable and steeply declining of North American passerines. This species also has exhibited among the most dynamic breeding distributions, with populations expanding and then contracting over the past 150 years in...
Rosenberg, Kenneth V.; Will, Tom; Buehler, David A.; Barker Swarthout, Sara; Thogmartin, Wayne E.; Bennett, Ruth E.; Chandler, Richard Cross-seasonal effects on waterfowl productivity: Implications under climate change
Previous efforts to relate winter-ground precipitation to subsequent reproductive success as measured by the ratio of juveniles to adults in the autumn failed to account for increased vulnerability of juvenile ducks to hunting and uncertainty in the estimated age ratio. Neglecting increased juvenile vulnerability will positively bias the mean...
Osnas, Erik; Zhao, Qing; Runge, Michael C.; Boomer, G Scott-
Date published: April 6, 2018How many birds have been banded since 1960?
Explore the total number of birds banded and band encountered by bird group since 1960 by bird banders.
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Date published: April 4, 2018Summaries of Banding and Encounter Data
Explore bird banders' data and learn how many birds have been banded and encountered since 1960.
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Date published: April 2, 2018BBL Longevity Records
Explore bird banders' data and learn how long birds may live.
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Date published: March 30, 2018Request data from the BBL
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.
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Date published: March 29, 2018Key Reference for BBL Codes
The BBL uses a variety of codes to facilitate the data management processes involving the submission of banding records by banders, the submission of reports of banded birds by the public (encounters), and in our publicly available bird banding and encounter datasets.
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Date published: March 27, 2018Memos to All Banders (MTABs) since 1922
Explore the historical banding notes and memos to all banders (MTABs) since 1922. Learn how the capture and bird banding techniques have evolved and how they have played a critical role to monitor the status and trends of resident and migratory bird populations.
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Date published: July 3, 2018Bandit Software
Bandit is the latest in a series of desktop applications 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 USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD.
Bird Banding Lab, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service—Centennial Presentation
This year marks the 100-year anniversary of the establishment of the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory. The lab hosted a live webinar to highlight the long history between the Bird Banding Lab and US Fish & Wildlife Services, and how they have impacted avian science in the past 100 years. Over the past 100 years, there have been significant advances in banding science. One
100 Years of Service to Migratory Bird Conservation in North America
This year, the USGS is celebrating the 100-year anniversary of their Bird Banding Laboratory and a century of advancing avian conservation science. Banding is one of the oldest and most important techniques used for studying individual birds. John Tautin, former Chief of the Bird Banding Lab and co-author of Bird Banding in North America: The First Hundred Years, will join
Bandit Download
This screencast is a tutorial on how to find Bandit for download as well as finding Bandit resources via the BBL's webpages.
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Date published: February 24, 2021Highlights from 2020: Bird Bandings and Encounters
An overview of the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory’s successes in collection and curation of bird banding data in the last year, featuring some of the remarkable bird bandings, recaptures, and encounters from 2020.
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Date published: December 18, 2020Notes From the Field: Wood Duck Recruitment
"Notes From the Field” are contributed articles that highlight current banding projects and the continued importance of bird banding 100 years after the establishment of the Bird Banding Lab. This article focuses on a collaborative project to examine how nest boxes affect population dynamics of...
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Date published: December 4, 2020Notes From the Field: Coastal Raptors
"Notes from the Field” are contributed articles that highlight current banding projects and the continued importance of bird banding 100 years after the establishment of the Bird Banding Lab. This article focuses on a long-term raptor monitoring project in Washington state.
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Date published: November 20, 2020Notes From the Field: Panola Mountain Bird Banding Station
"Notes From the Field” are contributed articles that highlight current banding projects and the continued importance of bird banding 100 years after the establishment of the Bird Banding Lab. Our second article in this new series focuses on a long-term banding station near Atlanta, Georgia.
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Date published: November 6, 2020Notes From the Field: The Rough-legged Hawk Project
"Notes From the Field” are contributed articles that highlight current banding projects and the continued importance of bird banding 100 years after the establishment of the Bird Banding Lab. Our first article in this new series focuses on a remote-tracking study that examines the movement...
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Date published: July 23, 2020Employee Spotlight: Jennifer McKay Rejoins the Bird Banding Laboratory
Biologist with avian database skills returns to the lab.
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Date published: July 7, 2020USGS Celebrates 100 Years of Bird Banding Lab
Birds bring joy merely by their presence, from their bold colors and majestic songs to their grace as they glide through the sky. Birds contribute more than beauty to the environment and society. Many plants depend on hummingbirds and other species to pollinate them. Hawks and owls prey on rodents and other pests. Fruit- and grain-eating birds help spread plants’ seeds.
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Date published: April 24, 2020Employee Spotlight: Kyra Harvey
An introduction to the Bird Banding Laboratory’s newest staff member.
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Date published: April 22, 2020Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) impacts on BBL operations
Learn how BBL operations are proceeding while maintaining social distance required by novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
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I recovered a bird band with illegible numbers. How can I get the band etched so I can read and report the numbers?
Most bird bands are made of an aluminum alloy and have unique numbers engraved. These numbers can wear off with time to the point that one or more numbers become illegible. The time that it takes for a bird band number to wear off depends on the habits of that bird species and the amount of time that it spends in the water. For instance, a band on... -
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... -
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 . -
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... -
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...