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USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Bird Banding Laboratory
12100 Beech Forest Road
Laurel, MD 20708-4037
NOTE TO ALL BANDERS
June 25, 2007
To: All Banders
From: Chief, Bird Banding Laboratory
Subjects:
1. Notice to Band Manager Users
2. Replaced Bands in Band Manager
3. Remarks in Band Manager
4. Bandit Version 1.03
5. Bandit Training Opportunities
1. Notice to Band Manager Users
As of July 1, 2007, the BBL will no longer require the submission of paper schedules from Band Manager. Banders should continue to send the 3 1/2" discs or CD's with the .txt file or attach this file to an e-mail addressed to bandmgr@usgs.gov. The subject line should read -- "Banding Data Submission (date) DD/MM/YYYY (permit#) NNNNN". At this time we are not be able to send a receipt confirmation. A Banding Data Evaluation will be sent later. You can continue to print schedules for your own use.
2. Replaced Bands in Band Manager
Because we will no longer be requiring paper schedules, the notice we sent in our December MTAB about replaced bands bears repeating:
It is very important for banders to send illegible bands to us via regular mail even if they are using Bandit or Band Manager to submit electronic data and are no longer submitting paper banding schedules. Be sure to include the replacing (new) band number so that we can process the record through our Multiple System once the band number has been determined through etching. Also indicate that the electronic data (Bandit or Band Manager) has been submitted, provide the date of the submission, and include your permit name and number. The removed bands should be taped (face down) to a piece of 8 ½ x 11” white paper and the replacing band number(s) should be written next to the illegible band(s). Please note in your e-mail with the electronic submissions that replaced bands to be etched are being mailed under separate cover. Send bands as quickly as possible to reduce delays in processing the replaced band data into the BBL database. When the BBL determines the band number, we will notify the bander so they have the number for their records. If we are unable to etch the band, the replacing (new) band data will be added as if it was an original banding and the bander will be notified accordingly.
Legible replaced bands do not need to be sent, but we are asking all banders to keep them until the records have been processed by the BBL. If we have any problems processing the replacement, we may need to have the bander send the band to us for checking.
If you have the need to replace a band within the same year as banded (e.g., Northern Cardinal banded in June and retrapped and band replaced in November), please use the data from the June capture with the band number that was applied in November. Then report the number used in June as “Destroyed”. This maintains the longevity information but saves us considerable time in processing. Finally, if you find that you have birds such as Northern Cardinals that are consistently mutilating their bands, please order the hard metal bands for use on those species.
As we are no longer requiring paper schedules from Band Manager, it is necessary to make a change in how you enter “Remarks”. When data are loaded into our Oracle database, the "Remarks" field is truncated to 100 characters. Please be conservative in the verbiage you use in this field and abbreviate accordingly so that the “Remarks” do not exceed the field length in our database. Bandit gives the user an alert so this is not a problem in that program.
Bandit users are strongly encouraged to download the newest version of Bandit (version 1.03) at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/resources/bandit/. It has updates that are critical to ensuring that we receive quality data. Please refer to MTAB 91, April 2007(http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/mtab/mtab.htm). Please check the web site periodically for future updates.
5. Bandit Training Opportunities
September 20, 2007 – The BBL will have a web cast Bandit training session between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM Eastern daylight time. If you participate you will need a high speed internet connection. Please notify Terry Liddick at tliddick@usgs.gov or 301-497-5806 no later than August 29, 2007. We need a response so we can plan accordingly for the number of connections necessary to accomplish the training
The training will cover the essential functions of Bandit necessary to effectively use the program such as entering the User Settings, Location data, Inventory data, and Banding data. An overview of exporting data from Band Manager and importing it into Bandit will be included. Please download the program and Users Manual (http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/resources/bandit/index.html) and preview them prior to the training session. Directions for connecting will be sent in early July. A phone line may be necessary for the audio portion so plan to have one available for the duration of the training.
Two other Bandit training opportunities are up-coming. We plan to hold a training session at the AOU meeting in Laramie, Wyoming, one day between August 8 and 11th. Another will be at the IBBA (Inland Bird Banding Association) meeting in Milwaukee, WI one day between October 19th and 21st. Final schedules have not been set, but you can contact the BBL as the dates approach for final dates.
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