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In Canada, authorization to band and mark waterfowl can be given to any bander qualified to conduct research on waterfowl. This authorization must be requested by the bander and if granted, the authorization will be added to the permit.
The special waterfowl authorization is intended to prevent banders from trapping specifically for waterfowl, or pursuing and harassing nesting waterfowl or broods. It should not be interpreted so stringently as to prevent the banding of waterfowl captured incidentally to other banding operations.
Birds that are protected by provincial legislation are: raptors including members of the orders Strigiformes (owls) or Falconiformes (eagles, ospreys, vulture, buteos, accipiters, harriers, falcons, and kites) and cormorants, pelicans, kingfishers, crows, and jays.
All persons wishing to band raptors or other provincially protected species need authorization from the provincial wildlife authorities as well as from the Banding Office in Hull. It is the responsibility of the bander to ensure that they have current valid provincial authorization; without it, the federal banding permit may not be sufficient. Authorization to band the species concerned must be listed in the permit.
This restriction should not be interpreted so stringently as to prevent the banding of raptors or other provincially protected species captured incidentally to other banding operations, but the Banding Office and the provincial wildlife authorities must be notified of the circumstances.
In Canada, banders wishing to mark species classed as endangered, threatened, or rare by COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) may be asked to provide additional justification for their project. Authorization to mark endangered species must be specified in the permit.
At least 60 days should be allowed for applications for Canadian endangered species permits to be processed.
Persons seeking authority to band in two or more provinces or territories are asked for justification. A bander who is involved in a research project that requires working in additional states or provinces, is granted banding authority in additional states or provinces. The appropriate regional office(s) is notified of such supplemental authorizations. In Canada, province of residence is not considered, but permits are issued for province of banding.
Permission to band in a Canadian federal or provincial park or a federal bird sanctuary must also be obtained. The federal park permits may be requested through Parks Canada office nearest you or through the Ottawa, Ontario office. Authority to band in provincial parks may be obtained from the provincial wildlife authorities. Authority to band in federal bird sanctuaries or national wildlife areas may be requested from the regional director of CWS.
Mist nets require a high degree of skill and manual dexterity if they are to be used without causing undue injury or mortality to birds. Appropriate knowledge and experience of identification and aging and sexing techniques is also necessary.
A bander who wants authorization to use mist nets should provide justification. When possible, the bander will be requested to work with another bander who is experienced in the use of nets and to obtain a recommendation from that bander. In the U.S., each mist net (and trap) should bear a tag with the bander's name and permit number. As an alternative, the immediate vicinity of such devices may be posted (form 3-1155).
Some chemical agents may be used to tranquilize birds and enable their capture for marking. This technique requires a high degree of skill. Authorization will be granted only in exceptional cases.
