Having your Tree Swallows banded:
One special way you can learn about songbirds is by having your adult and
nestling Tree Swallows banded.  A banded bird carries a uniquely numbered
light-weight aluminum band that identifies it for the rest of its life and
identifies its body after death.  You should consider having your swallows
banded, especially if you plan to operate your project for several years.















Why are birds banded?
According to the North American Banding Council the recapture of live
banded birds and recovery of dead banded birds can yield data that is
valuable in the following:  
  • Tracing movements of birds: their migration routes, range expansions
    and contractions, and dispersal of age classes.
  • Measuring demographics and dynamics of different bird populations,
    survival rates of age groups, age profiles of populations.
  • Investigating bird ecology: territory sizes, dominance hierarchies,
    habitat selection, changes in plumage and weight over time, effect of
    environmental contaminants, tracking incidence and spred of
    infectious diseases, and responses to experimental research variables.
  • Establishing gamebird hunting seasons and harvest limits.
  • Monitoring populations of species that are threatened or endangered.
  • Teaching the public about birds by letting them observe birds being
    banded and learning its value.

For more information on banding see the web site of the Patuxent Wildlife
Research Center's Bird Banding Laboratory, at www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl.

What can you learn by banding your Tree Swallows?
If you've established a good Tree Swallow nest box project 30%-60% of your
swallows will return from year to year.  Through banding and recapture over
several seasons you can learn a lot about your adult birds as individuals and
about your breeding population as a whole.

Although nestlings typically return at much lower rates you'll also be able to
learn things from banding them.

Here's a few things your banded Tree Swallows can teach you:
  • How many adults return each year, and annual return rates.
  • Minimal annual survival rate of your population.
  • Age class composition of your population.
  • Whether males or females are more apt to return.
  • If return rates vary with nesting success the previous year.
  • If returning pairs keep the same mates or nest with new partners.
  • If returning birds use the same box or move.
  • Which sex moves farther, if they move.
  • If females lay the same number of eggs each year.
  • If wing length changes from year to year.
  • If reproductive performance changes as females grow older.
  • If birds banded at your project are recovered or recaptured elsewhere.
  • If birds banded elsewhere come to your project to nest.
  • If nestlings raised at your project return as adults to nest.
  • How nestling return rates compare to those of adults.

That's a lot of stuff!  So having your birds banded might really be worth it

Finding a bander for your project:
  • Bird Banding is strictly regulated, and only persons who have passed
    bander training courses and possess proper government permits can
    band.  
  • Unless you have these qualifications you'll need to locate a licensed
    bander and request his or her help.  
  • Local bird clubs or your state or province's wildlife conservation
    department may be able to assist you.  
  • Or you can refer to the USGS Patuxent Bird Banding Laboratory's list of
    North American Banding Associations and Bird Observatories, for names
    of banders in your area who might be willing to band your birds.

What if you aren't having your swallows banded, but know one of your
nesters already has a band?
  • You can try trapping it yourself.  (See Banding Adults).
  • If you are successful note the band number and the bird's age and sex.  
    (See Sexing and Aging).
  • Report the band number to the Bird Banding Lab online at  www.
    reportband.gov or by phone at 1-800-327-BAND.

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Learn About Birds at Tree Swallow Nest Box Projects
Banding