Banding Office Newsletters

MEMORANDUM TO BANDERS

• Banding Office Service Reduced August 26 - September 6
• Band Supply
• Reminder - Send in your banding schedules
• Reminder - Adding New Markers to Previously Banded Birds
• Changes to Permit Wording
• Staffing News at BBO

Banding Office Service Reduced August 26 - September 6

The Banding Office will offer extremely limited service only during the two weeks of August 26 to September 6. We will be able to process only absolute-emergency permit applications during that period. Please plan accordingly, and have a good summer.

Band Supply

Once again the banding office must delay filling band orders for certain sizes. As you may know, we receive most of our bands from the United States Bird Banding Laboratory which in turn purchases bands from suppliers. We deeply regret the inconvenience caused by this and previous band shortages. In spite of many efforts to solve the problems, they exist still. We are completely out of size 0 bands and expect to receive more in late September. We have only a few size 1 bands and expect some more by early September. All other sizes are available now.

If you are completely out of size 0 or 1 bands, you might wish to find a bander who can transfer part of their supply to you. One way is to contact banders you know in your area. Another approach is to post a request for assistance on the BIRDBAND listserv.

Banders all over North America read this mailing list. If you do not already subscribe to BIRDBAND, you can join via this link: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdband.html.

PLEASE INFORM THE BIRD BANDING OFFICE OF ANY TRANSFER OF BAND INVENTORY.

Reminder - Send in Your Banding Schedules

If you have not already submitted your banding schedules for 2001, please do so soon. We need your data so that we can process reported band recoveries and track which bands are on birds and which are sitting unused. Data submission is your obligation under your master or station permit. Many thanks to all banders who submit their schedules regularly.

Reminder - Adding New Markers to Previously Banded Birds

The North American Banding Manual (Vol. 1, p. 3-7, item 35) states that banders should not add additional new markers to recaptured, previously banded birds. However, in the exceptional case that your research requires you to add a new marker (such as a satellite transmitter) to a bird that you have previously banded and then recaptured, please clear this in advance with the banding office. The bird’s status will change in the banding database. It is essential that we have proper and current information so that we can effectively process band recovery or marker sighting reports.

Changes to Permit Wording

We have changed some of the wording of the conditions that appear on the back of the banding permit, as follows:

Condition 1.

Used to say: Prior to capturing and banding birds in a Federal or Provincial sanctuary, a Federal or Provincial park, or in a National Wildlife Area, permission must be obtained to enter such sanctuary, park or wildlife area. Now says: ... permission must be obtained to band in such park, sanctuary or wildlife area.

Condition 2.

Used to say: A holder of a scientific permit to capture and band Migratory birds may salvage birds found dead, or killed as a result of normal banding operations, and shall dispose of such birds by sending them to the Collection Division, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6P4.

Now says: A holder of a scientific permit to capture and band migratory birds may salvage birds found dead or killed accidentally as a result of normal banding operations, for the purpose of donating them to a public, scientific or educational institution, as long as this is done in accordance with all other laws and government permit regulations.

Staffing News at BBO

Ann Demers, the banding permits administrator for many years, retired in June after 40 years with the Canadian Wildlife Service. Canadian banders will miss her efficiency, kindness and sense of humour -- and her elegant signature on their permits. We wish her all the best in her “new life”! Louise Laurin is covering Ann’s duties along with her usual work handling band orders etc.

Lucie Métras, who went on a one-year assignment elsewhere in CWS last September, has accepted a new, permanent position at that branch. Banders will recall Lucie’s meticulous and devoted service over the last 10 years. She will be difficult to replace. Her position of Bird Banding Biologist, also known as National Coordinator of the Bird Banding Program, remains vacant. Bev McBride is temporarily covering a few of the banding biologist’s essential roles, on a very part-time basis. We hope that the banding office will be fully staffed again by late fall.

In the winter of 2002 we welcomed Dr. Charles Francis who took over as the Chief of the Migratory Bird Populations Division of CWS, where the banding office resides. Many banders will know Charles from his years with Bird Studies Canada.

FROM THE BIRD BANDING STAFF

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