Beginning Bird Banding: A Hands-on Start for Citizen Scientists

This course is a basic introduction to banding birds, which is a valuable tool in ornithological research and monitoring.  An evening class session will briefly discuss the history, purpose, goals, and methods of banding. Among the topics discussed will be the federal and state permits required of bird banders, the submittal of data to the Bird Banding Laboratory, capture methods, the handling of wild birds, banding birds, the collection of morphological data, and the sexing and aging of birds. The lecture session will be followed by two days of hands-on experience capturing, handling, and banding birds in the field.  

• The lecture portion of this course takes place at JTNPA West in Old Town Yucca Valley.

• The weekend field class is based at the Black Widow Ranch.

• Anyone may attend! Basic bird identification skills are helpful but not required.

• No park pass is required.

• No lodging, meals, or equipment are provided.

• Participants are responsible for their own transportation. Carpooling is encouraged.

Activity level: This class is leisurely. It requires less than 2 miles of walking with shade, seating, consistent terrain, and little to no elevation gain.

Required items for participants: 

• Clothing free of exposed buttons and zippers (which can get caught in mist nets)

• Camera allowing close-up photographs (smartphones are usually adequate)

• Water

• Food and snacks

• Closed-toe athletic shoes

• Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen

• Appropriate clothing 

• Daypack

Any other pertinent information: No previous banding experience required. This class is entry-level. 

Your instructor: Stephen J. Myers is semi-retired after spending 38 years as a wildlife biologist and ornithologist for private biological consulting companies. He has concentrated his studies on birds, but also has extensive experience with small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, and plants.  Much of his experience with birds has focused on threatened and endangered species such as the California Gnatcatcher, Least Bell’s Vireo, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Yuma Ridgway’s Rail, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo.  Mr. Myers has been banding birds since 1985, and has been a federally permitted bird bander since 1990. Bird banding projects have included research of the California Gnatcatcher, Bahama Oriole, Lark Sparrow, Nelson’s Sparrow, and Red-winged Blackbird, along with coordinating or assisting with MAPS banding stations (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship). He has taught ornithology classes at Victor Valley College and bird banding classes at University of California, Riverside Extension. He also leads regular birding field trips and bird walks for the San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society and the Wildlands Conservancy. He and his wife enjoy international travel, usually involving birding, to places such as Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Belize, Mexico, Australia, and Sri Lanka.

Photo credit: Lauren Sopata