How many birds are banded?
As of April 29, 2024 and since 1960*, the BBL has received over 64 million banding records. Since the inception of the North American Bird Banding Program, the BBL has received over 4 million encounter records. On average, over the past decade, the BBL received 1.2 million banding and 87,000 encounter records per year.
Total numbers by species groups:
| Bird Group | # of bandings | # of encounters |
|---|---|---|
| Loons and Grebes | 36,612 | 2,195 |
| Alcids | 316,327 | 6,933 |
| Gulls/Terns/Albatross/other Seabirds | 8,342,359 | 986,228 |
| Ducks | 14,766,794 | 2,374,994 |
| Geese | 6,414,933 | 1,849,475 |
| Swans | 37,737 | 24,590 |
| Herons/Ibis/Rails/other Marsh Birds | 494,919 | 18,789 |
| Shorebirds | 1,060,305 | 27,201 |
| Doves and Pigeons | 3,172,974 | 182,049 |
| Raptors (including Owls) | 2,643,400 | 107,822 |
| Near Passerines and Passerines | 42,104,562 | 684,460 |
*Banding data from 1914 to 1959 are not available in electronic format.
Where are the grouse, quail, turkey, pheasant? These birds are no longer banded with federal bands. Each state or province uses their own bands on these birds, as they are not covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.