Bird banding involves catching a bird, either shorebird or forest bird, placing a metal band (or ring) around one of the legs, and then releasing it unharmed. This is to study individuals or group of birds within a population, they need to be marked.

It is an extremely effective means of discovering what ordinary healthy wild birds do and where they go. The practice began at the turn of the century in England, where it is called "ringing", and goes on all over the world.

After capture, birds are identified, examined for age, sex, physical conditions, etc. Then they get their leg bands and resume their journeys.

II. Aims

a. To determine movements of birds (migration routes or     movements due to weather or food supply)

b. To identify areas (breeding grounds, non-breeding areas      and regular passage sites)

c. To determine life expectancy of individuals within a     species and also specific causes of death

d. To determine which sub-species is present in an area

e. To obtain information on the annual life cycle, including     molt, pre-migratory fattening

f. To determine population breeding success from juvenile    and adult ratios

III. Site Evaluation

A. Site

The area must be evaluated thoroughly before any trapping is attempted at the site. Getting to know the proposed banding site means spending some time observing the behavior, movements and the actions of the birds.

B. Tides

For a successful banding in coastal areas, this is a very critical factor. In tidal zones, traps or nets should not be submerged by incoming tides. Allowances are made that the bottom of the net does not sag into the water when many birds are caught. In non-tidal areas, the time and height of the high tides must be known to ensure that birds will come to roost in that area at night.

C. Concentration of Feeding Birds

Found along the small creeks, tidal channels, in the mudflats and the mouth of estuaries, shorebirds gather in large numbers in a small area where food supply is abundant.

D. Background

Ideally, nets should be placed in front of a dark background in open areas or wetlands. This is usually not possible, so most shorebird banding is done when it is dark. Birds may fly into the nets at dawn or dusk, if the nets cannot easily be seen against a light background.

E. Movement of Birds

Depending on the tide level, birds move to different areas at various times during the day. Birds feeding along the intertidal mud will often fly at dusk along the coast, just above the water's edge to a roost site called "flight lines", and nets placed along these lines often get good results.

F. Access

The trapping or netting area must be easily accessible so that banders can check the nets regularly.

IV. Trapping Techniques

Conventional trapping techniques for shorebirds, which are conventionally used in the Asian region and in Australia:

A. Mist Nets
B. Cannon Nets
C. Rocket Nets
D. Nonnac Nets
E. Phut Nets
F. Clap Nets
G. Pull Traps
H. Drop Traps
I. Walk-in Traps
J. Dazzling at Night
K. Using Local Shorebird Hunters

Experimentation with methods is useful but must be approached with caution. Nothing beats practical experience, but one can get good hints from discussing techniques with experienced banders.

V. Mist Nets

It is during the hours of darkness and preferably on moonless or nearly moonless nights that mist netting for shorebirds is best conducted where birds find it difficult to see the nets and has a high probability of a good catch.

The number of nets to use depends on:

• The number of people (banders, volunteers, etc.)
• Number of experienced banders who are efficient and quick at extracting birds from the nets
• Weather conditions (winds, rains, tides, etc.)
• The approximate number of birds that may be caught in the catching area

VII. Extracting a Bird from a Mist Net

Birds caught should be removed as speedily as safely as possible. On hitting a mist net, most birds are enclosed in a pocket of netting which folds around them. Birds will suffer from wind, rain and possibly predation if left for long periods of time. Each bird caught in a net presents a unique extraction program. Practice, extra carefulness, patience and common sense are needed to release them.

VIII. Furling

Furling is the temporary closure of mist nets. It makes the Mist Net temporarily inactive. If significant weather changes (rain, wind, tides, and others) occur, or if there are too many birds caught for the banding team to handle, or if the nets will not be used for a period (e.g., during the day between two banding nights), the nets must be furled.

IX. Banding Station

A temporary structure constructed using a canvass tarpaulin supported by poles may be constructed so that the banding team has a place to use to "process" the birds. Whatever trapping technique is used, shorebirds will need to be "processed" and banded quickly as soon as possible. Processing is best done close to the trapping area at the banding station.

X. Bird Bags

Those are made of light opaque cloth bag used for transporting birds from netting site to "processing" area (Banding Station). Birds caught in any trapping technique are placed into a bird bag (one bird per bag to prevent injury). If they contain birds, the bird bags must always be hung and never placed on the ground or floor. Birds inside the bird bags must not be left for too long, as they will suffer from cramps (neck, wings, and legs). They should be transferred as soon as possible to the keeping cages.

XI. Keeping Cages

A simple "keeping cage", which is suitable for a majority of shorebirds, can be made out of hessian sacks. "Keeping cages" enable birds to stand and preen in the darkened, dry place - this is important to the birds' well being after being trapped and handled.
The cages should always be placed in a cool, dry, safe area and away from predators (e.g., ants, cats, dogs, etc.) to prevent stress, cramps, overheating, or at worst, death.

XII. Morphometrics

Morphometrics relates to the measurements taken from a bird structure. Measurements are taken and recorded when a bird is caught for banding; these can help determine important factors, such as the sex ratio within a population, any inter-population or sub-species differences, geographical origin of a population, details of molt cycles and pre-migratory fattening.

Some of the morphometrics of the captured and banded shorebirds which can be recorded in the field include:

• Bill length (mm)
• Total bill and head length (mm)
• Wing length or span (mm)
• Tarsus length (mm)
• Weight (grams)
• Molt data (head and body molt, tail molt and wing molt)
• Aging
• Sex

XIII. Processing Techniques

Processing involves the following steps:

a. Handling a bird correctly and properly
b. Identification of the species
c. Banding with a unique band (ring)
d. Taking measurements (morphometrics)
e. Identifying the stages of molt (head and body molt, tail     molt and wing molt)
f. Age of each bird
g. Recording all information on the data sheet
h. Releasing the bird safely

XIV. Processing Equipment

a. Bands
b. Custom-built pliers
c. Wing rulers and body rulers
d. Circlip pliers
e. Bird bags
f. Pens, pencils, erasers
g. Balances
h. Vernier caliper
i. Field data forms
j. Guidebooks

XV. Handling a Bird

During the extraction from the trap, transportation, processing and release, all birds must be handled correctly to avoid escape, stress cramps, injury, and at worst, death. It is important to hold the bird around the body and never by the wings, legs, or head.

XVI. Identification of the Species

A good field knowledge of the bird species found in the area where the proposed mist nets or traps are set is a must for shorebird banders. Also, observing species movements and behavior in the proposed catching area give banders a better knowledge of what they may expect to catch before they attempt to trap. There are only a few valuable field guides for use in the identification of shorebird species.

XVII. Banding a Bird

The basic procedure for banding a bird is as follows:

• Check both legs to make sure that the bird is not already banded, then check body for any color marks or flags.
• Select band size suitable for the species.
• Check correct sequence of the band number inscribed on the length of the tubing against the one listed on the data sheet.
• Place band in the correct "hole" of the pliers.
• Place band around the bird's leg (either below or above the tarsus joint).
• Squeeze pliers until the band closes properly.
• Examine band to ensure that it fits correctly and has closed properly, and that its inscription has not been defaced.
• Remove bands that have been badly fitted or are of the wrong size for the species.
• Enter the band number into the data sheet.
• Record lost, broken or damaged bands.

XVIII. Bird Bands

Bird bands are made of a variety of metals and aluminum. The most suitable for use with shorebirds is "incoloy," a hardwearing nickel-chromium alloy resistant to the effects of saltwater and mud. Each bird is fitted on one leg with a band issued to a licensed bird bander only and inscribed with a unique coded number. Also stamped or engraved on the band is the return address of the scheme that produced the band.

XIX. Band Size

For many Asian shorebird species, there is a recommended band size that fits correctly around the tarsus. There are thirty-six (36) different internal diameter sizes of bands used by six banding schemes in Asia. These range from 2.0 mm for passerines to 26 mm for large water birds, game birds and birds of prey.

XX. Data Sheets

It is important to record, clearly and concisely, all the information collected on data sheets especially designed for use by bird banders. The data are submitted to the banding scheme whose bands are being used. Any discrepancies are to be corrected immediately and rechecked by the banders.

The following data must be completed on the data sheets:

• Name of banding site (locality) and country
• Names of banding team members (operators), banding scheme and contact address
• Date
• Species of birds (scientific name)
• Age (using codes)
• Sex (reliable character known and how sexed)
• Wing length
• Bill length
• Bill and head length
• Other measurements (state what)
• Primary molt (using codes)
• Secondary molt (record in the same way as primaries)
• Weight (in grams)
• Time of capture

Other information, such as whether the bird was a retrap (R), marked in any way (MARK), who measured it (Who Mes), tail molt, or amount of summer plumage (Summ Plum) should also be completed where necessary. The back of the data sheet should be used to record additional information.

XXI. Color-Marking

Color marking involves marking a bird's body with a color dye or colored flags are placed on the legs. Color marking an individual bird enables its identification in the field by using the binoculars or telescope, rather in the hand, thus eliminating the need to recapture it. A very useful aid in migration studies, particularly in the study of shorebird migration.

a. Color bands or leg flags

These are usually made of colored plastic (celluloid or Darvic PVC) and have a long life span (3-5 years). The colors used are red, black, dark blue, light green, orange, yellow or white, or a combination of those colors. The bands or flags are placed above the knee to it can be easily seen by the binoculars or telescopes.

b. Plumage dyes

A non-toxic, waterproof dye is painted onto the feathers (usually the breast, belly and underwing), but it has only a short lifespan as shorebirds molt their feathers at least once a year. The major advantage of plumage dyes is that they are relatively quick to apply and easily visible in the field.

XXII. Releasing a Bird

The best and the safest method of releasing a shorebird (ringed, dyed or flagged) is to allow the bird to walk away into the wind, but not towards the area from where it was caught. Shorebirds can be released at night away from bright lights, thick vegetation and in areas where the banding team is regularly moving.

A bird that shows reluctance to move away (this may be due to stress, cramps, shock or injury) is recaptured and kept in a "keeping cage" until it can be released safely. During the day after a night-time banding session, the vicinities of the trapping area and the surrounding fields of the banding station must be checked for any previously unobserved injuries or casualties.

XXIII. Recoveries

Banded birds caught again (recovered), whether alive or dead, can reveal some very important information -- for example, when the birds migrate, where they winter, whether they returned to old homes, how long they lived.

How you can help

XXIV. Banding Ethics

If the bird's behavior (flight, feeding, courting, breeding, migration, etc.) is altered in any way due to a bird bander's carelessness and material (band) defect, much of the valuable information and data gained from banding a bird (ring, flag or dye) and releasing the bird would be totally worthless. Proper handling and the use of appropriate bands are important to ensure that birds banded with rings, flags or dye will behave and live in same way as normal (unbanded) wild birds.

Bands must be made from a light metal and the flags from very light plastic, and the dye must be non-poisonous and not toxic to birds. Bird banders undergo rigorous seminars and field training before they receive their banders' license.

XXV. Important Points to Remember

a. The well-being and welfare of the birds is the top priority. If conditions are not good (strong wind, rain, big waves and strong water current, the nets are closed or furled), do not attempt to catch or band birds. Cancel bird banding for the night.

b. Some birds may be injured during the trapping. Since no trapping technique is perfect, injured or damaged birds are always released as soon as possible. Seriously injured or badly damaged birds are best killed and preserved as specimen for reference and for future scientific study.

c. The bird should not be handled roughly for longer than necessary as this may cause stress, cramps, injury, or even death.

References
History of Shorebird Banding in Asia
List of Organizations involved in Shorebird Studies in Asia and Worldwide

Related Article:  Going Bird Banding