Federal Permit

The Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) can provide authorization to collect blood samples only from migratory birds captured for the purpose of banding and/or marking. If migratory birds are captured for the sole purpose of obtaining blood samples, then a Migratory Bird Scientific Collecting Permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will be required. Banders will not be considered for this...

A bander must obtain authorization from the Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) before they start banding rehabilitated birds.

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.

For US banders proposing projects in countries that have existing bird banding programs, such as Brazil and Peru, they should contact those programs to obtain the necessary permits and expect to use bands issued by those countries. Some island states are overseas territories of European countries and banding activities on those islands are normally governed by the respective European banding...

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...

The Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) normally provides a statewide banding authorization for the master bander’s state or territory of residence. In some situations, however, the geographic extent of these authorizations may be restricted depending on the size of the state/territory, the proposed banding activities, and other factors.

Bird banders cannot legally band and/or mark any Federal Endangered or Threatened Species unless they have specific authorizations on their Federal Bird Banding and Marking Permit. Before the Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) can issue an endangered species authorization, the bander must obtain an Endangered Species Section 10 Recovery Permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Banders...