What is NABC doing?

Developing a bander training and certification program to set standards of knowledge, experience and skills at levels of:

Assistant: competence in handling and banding birds under direct supervision.

Bander: competence in all aspects of banding, including the design and carrying out of meaningful studies that involve the capturing, handling, identifying, ageing, sexing, banding, and measuring of birds; recording of data; and accurate and timely completion of banding schedules.

Trainer: permittees with exceptional experience, knowledge, skill, and demonstrated teaching ability. Trainers will certify banders.

Preparing training manuals to serve as reference materials for trainers and prospective new banders, and enhance the knowledge and skills of existing banders.

North AmericanBanders' Study Guide

Instructors' Guide to Training Bird Banders in North America

Guide to the Banding of North American Raptors

Guide to the Banding of North American Passerines

Guide to the Bandingof North American Hummingbirds

Other manuals are anticipated. Information about obtaining these manuals is on the NABC publications page

Creating Committees

Certification, Steve Russell, Chair

Data Management and Applications Committee, C.J. Ralph, Chair

Education, Ken Burton, Chair

Evaluation, No Current Chair

International, Lesley-Anne Howes, Chair

Publications, Jerry Jackson, Chair

Outreach, Audrey Heagy, Chair

Training, John Alexander, Chair

Policy, Audrey Heagy (Canada) and Mark Shieldcastle (US), Co-Chairs

Designating Charter Trainers who have:

extensive experience,

peer recognition as expert banders,

good teaching abilities, and

high ethical standards.

Running Evaluation Sessions -- Additional details on upcoming sessions is available on the sessions page.

Braddock Bay Bird Observatory, near Rochester, NY - October 2008 (landbirds)

Humboldt Bay Bird Observatory, Arcata, CA - October 2007 (landbirds)

San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, San Jose, CA - October 2007 (landbirds)

Braddock Bay Bird Observatory, near Rochester, NY - October 2007 (landbirds)

Humboldt Bay Bird Observatory, Arcata, CA - Oct 2006 (landbirds)

Long Point Bird Observatory, Port Rowan, ON - July 2006 (landbirds)

Humboldt Bay Bird Observatory, Arcata, CA - October 2005 (landbirds)

Braddock Bay Bird Observatory, near Rochester, NY - October 2005 (landbirds)

Black Swamp Bird Observatory offices and Magee Marsh Wildlife Area Oak Harbor, OH - August 2005 (landbirds)

Motte Rimrock Reserve, Perris, CA - August 2005 (hummingbirds)

Humboldt Bay and Klamath Bird Observatories, Arcata, California - October 2004 (landbirds)

Braddock Bay Bird Observatory, near Rochester, NY - October 2004 (landbirds)

Klamath Bird Observatory, near Ashland, Oregon - October 2003 (landbirds)

Braddock Bay Bird Observatory, near Rochester, NY - October 2003 (landbirds)

Delta Marsh Bird Observatory, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada - September 2003 (landbirds)

Kern River Preserve, Kernville, CA - July 2003 (hummingbirds)

Powdermill Nature Reserve, PA - April 2003 (landbirds)

Arcata, CA - October 2002 (landbirds)

Braddock Bay Bird Observatory, near Rochester, NY - September 2002 (landbirds)

Black Swamp Bird Observatory, near Toledo, OH - August 2002 (landbirds)

Niagara Falls, NY - April 2002 (landbirds)

Arcata, CA - October 2001 (landbirds)

Braddock Bay Bird Observatory, near Rochester, NY - October 2001 (landbirds)

Spokane, WA - September 2001 (landbirds)

Silver City, NM - August 2001 (hummingbirds)

Calgary, AB - July 2001 (landbirds)

Fairbanks, AK - September 2000 (landbirds)

Elgin, AZ - January 2000 (trial)

Reno, NV - October 1999 (trial)

Ottumwa, IA - September 1999 (trial)

Creating a Clearinghouse of learning tools and resources for banders.

The NABC Education Committee is compiling and reviewing existing materials for dissemination and to identify gaps. If you know of materials that are not yet posted or mentioned on our site, please notify Audrey Heagy (aheagy@kwic.com)

Developing an infrastructure to:

establish and maintain procedures, policies, bylaws,

issue certifications,

update training and testing materials,

maintain directory of certified assistants, permittees and trainers.