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. Examples include:
- North American Banders’ 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 Banding of North American Hummingbirds