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Report a bird with a Federal Band or Color Marker

OMB Control #_1028-0082
Approval expires:03/31/2019

 
Examples of Federal bands and color markers

Thank you for reporting a bird with a Federal Band or Color Marker!

If you have already reported your Federal Band or Color Marker and want another copy of your Certificate of Appreciation click here

Please contact us at bandreports@usgs.gov if any of these occur:
You experience problems using this website.
You receive an error message upon selecting "Send to BBL" to submit your report.
You provide an email address and you do not receive a confirmation email after submitting your report.

PLEASE NOTE: If the band has the letters "AU", "IF", "CU" "NPA" or "IPB" it is probably a captive pigeon band. Please do not report captive pigeon bands to the BBL, we do not keep a database of these birds. You can find more information at: http://www.pigeon.org/lostbirdinfo.htm

When you submit a report, we will provide you the details about when and where the bird was originally marked. A copy of your report will be provided to the researcher who originally applied the band and/or marker.

Your report will be added to a database maintained cooperatively by the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory and Canadian Wildlife Service, Bird Banding Office. This database contains more than 4 million band encounter records that document movements, longevity, and sources of mortality for North America's migratory birds. This information is used to monitor populations, set hunting regulations, restore endangered species, study effects of environmental contaminants, and address such issues as Avian Influenza, bird hazards at airports, and crop depredations.

 

 

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501), please note the following. This information collection is authorized by The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 16 U.S.C. 703-712. Your response is voluntary.  We estimate that it will take approximately 2 minutes to prepare and submit the recovery report. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget control number. OMB has reviewed and approved this information collection and assigned OMB Control Number 1028-0082. You may submit comments on any aspect of this information collection, including the accuracy of the estimated burden hours and suggestions to reduce this burden. Send your comments to: Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 807, Reston, VA 20192.

Privacy Act Statement

AUTHORITY: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. §§ 703-712) and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. §§ 668-668d).

PRINCIPAL PURPOSE: The principal purpose for collecting the information is to manage banding permits and sub permits issued by the Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL), and to provide contact information for Certificates of Appreciation and other rewards to people who report bird bands to the BBL.

ROUTINE USE:  To manage banding permits and sub permits issued by the BBL that authorizes bird banding activities in the United States and its Territories, and for other necessary actions required to manage and maintain the United States bird banding program within the intent of the authorizing legislation.  Contact information will be shared with Canadian, Federal and state agencies upon request.  Contact information will be shared with the approved bird bander for the purpose of providing the bander the opportunity to obtain additional information if needed.

DISCLOSURE IS VOLUNTARY: All information is voluntary.  Individuals have the option to not provide the contact information. Individuals applying for banding permits will not be allowed to participate in the program if contact information is declined.  Those reporting a bird band to the BBL do not have to provide contact information to report encounters.

Please select all the options that apply to you:

 
     

I am reporting a:

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- Help
If you do not know the band number and only want to report the color marker, please click here.
Is the band too worn to read?
If so, please contact us at bandreports@usgs.gov or 301-497-5825
 
(if present)
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Date Picker
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If you do not know the exact date you encountered the bird click here

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Please complete only those fields which describe the markers seen on the bird Help

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Maximum 250 characters
If the bird did not have an auxiliary marker click here
    
 
    

Please enter your contact information:

    
(please enter digits only, it will be formatted automatically)
    

Your response will apply to any additional contacts as well.

 
    

Please review the information you have entered below

If there are any errors, click "edit" next to it and make corrections.
If the information is correct, click "Send to BBL" button to complete your submission.