Frequently Asked Questions--Changes to the Banding Permit and Subpermits

Banders should plan ahead for the next season's field work, and request subpermits and other permit changes in advance of their need to band birds. Allowing 6 weeks for the Bird Banding Laboratory to process your request should be sufficient.  Note that only the Master Bander can request changes to the Banding Permit, whether for a Master Permit or a Subpermit!

Subpermits 

To request a Subpermit, in lieu of a formal Application, a Master Bander can provide the BBL with the following information for each Subpermit. 

• Master Permit Name and Number
• Applicant (Requested Subpermittee) name and full contact information
• Statement that the applicant is over minimum age to hold a Subpermit
• Applicants Qualifications and resume of banding experience (training, experience, previous permits held both or applied for, US or Canadian or other federal wildlife permits)  NOTE:  A subpermit should not be requested until such time as the applicant is capable of working completely independently of the Master Permittee!
• Experience with specific capture techniques if requested (mist nets, rocket or cannon nets)
• Project Proposal (if new project) or project name/purpose if existing Project Proposal on file
• State(s) where permission to band is requested
• Auxiliary Marking proposal (if needed) See How to Request Auxiliary Marking Permission; or statement that applicant needs permission to mark (include experience as above)
  

This information can be sent to FSoehnlein@usgs.gov. 

Blood Sampling

To request permission to take blood samples, please provide the BBL the following information.  

• Master Permit Name and Number, and any Subpermits that require this permission
• Species
• Site of blood draw or technique 
• Volume of blood to be taken
• Applicants qualifications and resume of experience and/or training (include for Subpermits as well as Master if also required by Subpermittees)
• Project Proposal (Why is the blood needed?  How will it be used?)
  

This information can be sent to FSoehnlein@usgs.gov. 

Feather Sampling  

To request permission to take feather samples, please provide the BBL the following information.  

• Master Permit Name and Number, and any Subpermits that require this permission
• Species
• What feathers will be taken, and how many 
• Project Proposal (Why are the feathers needed?  How will they be used?)
  

This information can be sent to FSoehnlein@usgs.gov. 

Additional States/Countries and Changes to Species Groups

To request permission to band in additional states or countries using Federal bands or additional species groups, please provide the BBL with the following information.

• Name and permit number for the Master Permit, and any Subpermits that require this permission
• New species or states needed (for work outside the USA, only North American migrants can be banded with Federal bands (see Banding in Other Countries)
• Applicants Qualifications and resume of banding experience (training, experience, previous permits held)
• Project Proposal 

This information can be sent to FSoehnlein@usgs.gov. 

Changes to a Responsible Individual on an Agency Permit 

• Master Permit Name and Number (these are Station Permits in the Name of an Agency or Banding Group)
• Applicant (Requested Responsible Individual) name and full contact information
• Statement that the applicant is over minimum age to hold a Master Permit
• Applicants Qualifications and resume of banding experience (training, experience, previous permits held)
• Experience with specific capture techniques if needed (mist nets, rocket or cannon nets) or experience with specialty groups (e.g. Hummingbirds) if needed
  

This information can be sent to FSoehnlein@usgs.gov. 

Special Considerations

For Federally Threatened or Endangered Species, permission is required from both the BBL and the USFWS Migratory Bird Offices.

Note that for Projects involving multiple permits, a single request can be sent to the BBL for approval, listing cooperators (for feather sampling) or for reference by banders sending in their experience with the technique (for blood sampling).  Please include permit numbers whenever possible.  

For requests for a Subpermit where the individual bander already holds a Master or a Subpermit for the same species group, request that the permit be duplicated as a Subpermit under the new permit.  A Subpermit cannot be duplicated under another Master without an application/resume of experience if the species groups are different. For example, a Master with permission to band Raptors Only can not request a Subpermit under another bander for Passerines.  Duplication of Subpermits has a faster turn-around time than an application for a Subpermit.  

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