Bird movement and migration was the first major focus of bird banding in Canada. This year, marks the 100-year anniversary of the first wild bird to be marked with a numbered band in Canada. Over 60 000 000 birds have since been banded in North America allowing for greater understanding of the biology and migration patterns of many of Canada's migratory bird species.
Bird banding is now used throughout the world, as a basic tool for bird research and monitoring. Banding allows biologists and wildlife managers to study behaviour and ecology, monitor populations and protect endangered species. The study of birds can also be used to address human health and safety concerns such as West Nile virus.
Banding
Bird banding has been taking place for centuries. The first record of a metal band attached to a bird's leg was around 1595 when one of King Henry IV's banded Peregrine Falcons was lost in pursuit of a bustard in France. It showed up 24 hours later in Malta, about 2170 kilometres away, averaging 90 kilometres per hour.
At the beginning of the twentieth century a bird band was a simple hand-stamped aluminium band placed around the leg so a bird could be identified and tracked. Now, in the twenty-first century that same method is still used.
Bands come in different sizes and designs to accommodate larger and smaller birds. Hummingbirds are so tiny that each band must be cut and individually shaped for each bird. Larger birds of prey such as hawks and eagles require lock-on or rivet bands so that they cannot be removed by powerful beaks. While most bands are made of aluminium, birds that spend a lot of time in the water receive bands made of stainless steel.
Some studies require that individual birds be identified from a distance. In these cases other marking devices such as colour bands, neck collars, plastic streamers, wing tags, nasal saddles, feather clippings, and paints or dyes are sometimes used in addition to the basic bands.
Who Bands Birds
If you are interested in learning more about bird banding or assisting as a volunteer with a banding project during the spring migration, contact one of the many bird observatories across Canada. Volunteering is the best way to learn the challenging skills necessary to become a bird bander. For a list of bird observatories across Canada view the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network website.
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Bird banders are highly, technically skilled in bird capture, handling, identification, aging and sexing. Banders must hold a scientific permit issued by the federal government to capture and band migratory birds. Environment Canada's Bird Banding Office and the United States Geological Survey's Bird Banding Laboratory jointly administer the North American Bird Banding Program.
More than 300 000 birds are banded annually in Canada by more than 900 permitted banders. Of the approximately 518 species of birds occurring in Canada, about 300 species are banded each year. Much of today's banding information contributes to North America-wide monitoring, research, and conservation programs.
The information that has been attained in the last 100 years of bird banding in Canada is phenomenal for the scientific study and conservation of birds. Few other methods have reared such success. There is still much to learn about birds' movement, survival and behaviour. Bird banding is sure to bring forth new discoveries over the next 100 years and help to understand the wonderful world of birds.
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