Banding and Encounter Data Requests
Banding and encounter data are available for research purposes. Individual banding data records exist electronically starting in 1960. Individual encounter data are available from 1913. Banding data prior to 1960 are only available in a semi-summarized format. For waterfowl these summarized records start in 1913, but for non-waterfowl in 1955.
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a valid email address with daytime phone number
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selection criteria for data needed (i.e. species, common name, states, etc.)
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a justification for receiving data
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(if you are a bander) permit name and permit number
Send your request to:
Danny Bystrak at dbystrak@usgs.gov
If you wish to discuss your request, you may call Danny Bystrak at 301-497-5796. Once the request is received at the Bird Banding Lab, allow 3 - 6 weeks to receive the data (it usually takes less time). We will include our Policy for Release and Use of Banding and Encounter Data.
You may need to translate some of the coded fields in your data or may want more details about how to interpret some fields. Please consult the Banding and Encounter data codes and descriptions page of our website for translations. Certain data files will contain codes that are now considered obsolete, but these codes are included on the aforementioned page.
