Permit Limitations

The authorized bird marking and salvage activities are limited to those described in the permit and any supplements. Further limitations may be imposed by the natural resource agency of the state(s) or province(s) within which a bander will be working. Exceeding the authorizations contained in the permit is grounds for the suspension or revocation of a permit.

Permission should be obtained from private landowners or administrators of any public land upon which banders wish to band birds. In the U.S., all banding sites should be posted with an identification poster available from the appropriate Banding Office.

Activities not authorized by a Federal Bird Marking and Salvage Permit or a Canadian Scientific Permit to Capture and Band Migratory Birds are listed below:

• Collecting - Although banding permits authorize the bander to salvage dead birds for the purpose of donating them to a public, scientific, or educational institution, they DO NOT authorize the bander to collect (kill) protected species of birds. In Canada, as in the U.S., a separate Scientific Take Permit, issued by the appropriate regional office of CWS, is required. In the U.S., the appropriate U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement should be contacted.
• Possessing birds - Neither a U.S. nor a Canadian banding permit authorizes the bander to possess the carcass, eggs, nest, or parts thereof of any protected species of bird, except that in the U.S. the bander may possess for no more than 6 months, or within 60 days from the date a permit expires or is revoked, dead birds salvaged for donation to a public, scientific, or educational institution. In Canada, the bander may possess salvaged birds according to conditions written on the permit.
• Holding birds - A permit authorizes the bander to hold protected birds in captivity for no more than 24 hours. This limited authorization is intended to permit banders to legally hold birds that are wet, captured late in the evening, or those suffering from minor injuries, for a brief recuperation period prior to release.
• Transporting - In the U.S., for transporting, holding for more than 24 hours and various other non-marking manipulations not included on the Bird Marking and Salvage Permit, requires a special use permit obtained through U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement. In Canada, any non-marking manipulation of birds, including transportation, not specified on the banding permit requires a special use permit (depending on the activity) issued by the appropriate CWS Regional Office.

To obtain permits for some of the activities listed above, the bander should apply to the appropriate USFWS special agent-in-charge or CWS regional director.

Where to request USFWS Permits (leaving this site).

Where to request CWS Permits

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