OTTAWA, September 22, 2005 Billions of migratory birds
leave Canada each fall after breeding season, travelling south to winter destinations
in the southern U.S.A., Mexico, the Caribbean and Central or South America.
This fall will mark the 100th anniversary of Canadian efforts to track the
destinations of our migratory birds.
On September 24, 1905, James Henry Fleming placed a band on +the foot
of an American Robin in his backyard in Toronto, Ontario, in the hopes
of discovering where it went for the winter. One hundred years later,
over 900 banders place bands and markers on over 300 000 migratory birds
each year in Canada.
“Bird banding is used throughout the works, as a basic tool for
bird research and monitoring, “said the Honourable Stéphane
Dion, Minister of the Environment. “Banding allows biologists and
wildlife managers to study behaviours and ecology, monitor populations
and protect endangered species. The study of birds can also be used to
address human health and safety concerns such as West Nile virus through
capture and taking blood samples.”
Environment Canada’s Bird Banding Office and the United States
Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Laboratory have jointly administered
the North American Bird Banding Program since 1923.
More than 66 million birds have been banded in North America with close
to 4 million encounters for 980 species and subspecies since 1908. Banding
and recovery data collected in Canada contribute to ornithological research
and the conservation and management of North American migratory birds
throughout the Western Hemisphere.
“The information that has gathered in the last 100 years of bird
branding in Canada has been phenomenal for the scientific study and conservation
of birds,” said Minister Dion. “Ensuring we have sound science
information behind our decision making is key to the Government of Canada’s
overall approach under Project Green, our broad environmental vision
that links Canada’s economic competitiveness and prosperity to
a sustainable future.”
At the beginning of the twentieth century, a bird band was a simple
hand stamped aluminium band placed around the leg so a bird could be
identified and tracked. Now, a century later, that same method is still
used, except for birds that spend a lot of time in the water require
bands made of stainless steel.
Bands come in different sizes and designs to accommodate a variety of
sizes of birds. Hummingbirds are so small that each band must be cut
and individually shaped for each bird, whereas larger birds of prey such
as hawks and eagles require lock-on or rivet bands so that they cannot
be removed by powerful beaks.
Some studies require that individual birds be identified from a distance.
In these cases, other marking devices such as colour bands, neck collars,
plastic streamers, wing tags, nasal saddles, feather clippings, and paints
or dyes are sometimes used in addition to the basic bands.
Canada’s bird banders are highly skilled in bird capture, handling,
identification, aging and sexing. Banders must hold a scientific permit
issued by the federal government to capture and band migratory birds.
The North American Bird Banding Program relies on the public to report
found bird bands. Canadians who find a banded bird or a bird band are
asked to note as much information as they can about the bird and its
band and contact the Bird Banding Office (http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/nwrc-cnrf/migb/bbo_e.cfm)
or toll-free at 1-800-327-BAND.
The Government of Canada’s activities for the protection and conservation
of migratory birds are part of the Project Green, a set of policies and
programs aimed at supporting a sustainable environment. Project Green addresses
environmental initiatives for the 21st century including measures to
conserve our biodiversity, protect our water, and clean up contaminated
sites.
For more information about bird banding or assisting as a volunteer
with a banding project, contact one of the many bird observatories
across Canada. Volunteering is the best way to learn the challenging
skills
necessary to become a bird bander. For a list of bird observatories
across Canada view the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network website
at http://www.bsc-eoc.org/national/cmmn.html.
Related Sites :
Migratory Bird Populations
http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/nwrc-cnrf/migb/bbo_e.cfm
Bird Banding in Canada
http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=223
Canadian Migration Monitoring Network
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/national/cmmn.html
Ontario Bird Banding Association
http://ontbanding.org/
A Brief History of Bird Banding
http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/homepage/history.htm
For more information, please contact:
André Lamarre
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 997-1441
Sébastien Bois
Media Relations
Environment Canada
(819) 953-4016
