Obtain Permit

A United States Federal Bird Banding and Marking Permit is required by the Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) for all US-based research that involves banding or marking wild birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The BBL collaborates with the Canadian Wildlife Service Bird Banding Office (BBO) to administer the North American Bird Banding Program. US banders who would like to apply for a...

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.

A Federal Bird Banding and Marking Permit is required by the Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) whenever someone wants to place a bird band or any type of marker on a wild bird protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act or on a Federally-protected bird that will be released into the wild.

Instructions in how to fill out the master banding permit

Requests for sub-permitees need to be made by the master Bander.

Swab sampling is a standard method in avian disease surveillance. Oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs are minimally invasive. Tracheal swabs, especially for smaller birds (passerines) are more invasive and may more often be performed on dead birds.

The Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) can provide authorization to sample feathers collected from migratory birds captured for the purpose of banding and/or marking. If migratory birds are captured for the sole purpose of obtaining feather samples, then a Migratory Bird Collecting Permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will be required.

Detailed information about the application process is found on the page with master banding permit application form and instructions. Please recognize that the new responsible individual must have sufficient banding experience to qualify for a master banding permit with the existing authorizations on the station 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.

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...