Banding birds will always be controversial to some extent. However, if I understand correctly, banders have to be certified and this certification has to be updated regularly. There are some rather stringent regulations and safety features set out for banders and their aides to follow.. The certified people are required to see that these safety regulations are carried out. I am not sure if there are regulations on the numbers who can set up banding stations in a given area.. and I am not sure if there is a regulation of where... what states... area... they are allowed to band... there is certainly a requirement on having reliable references for those who band.. and if the banders are not following regulations or are having problems, then the certificates can be looked into and that person may no longer be certified... if there those who are banding without certification then surely there are responsible birders who would see that that is corrected.. EVERYONE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS.. SEEING THAT IT IS DONE PROPERLY AND WITH CERTIFICATION. The regulations were made apparent to all those who were banding all the times that I have been involved with banding. If a bird appears stressed it is let go with no banding.. the first birds brought to the banding station were banded first, care was taken to see that only those people who took care handled the birds.. constant monitoring took place. IN all the times I have been with those who banded I have seen only one bird which died as a result of this... but I have seen birds which looked stressed, monitored and then let go immediately when they recovered.... The most birds I have ever seen netted and banded was at Jekyll Island always in October when at times the birds were everwhere.. That has been a regular banding station for decades. I have not been there for many years though.. but certainly hope those banding there are still using the same amount of care and monitoring. What happens to the birds once they are released is another matter. Could there be certain migration patterns with banding stations set up to monitor this? Or is this already happening. I don't recall many birds found which were banded somewhere else. Is there a field study for these previously banded birds.??? I know there are some high feelings conceerning banding, for I have heard them discussed. But conflict should not be a deterrent rather I would hope it is better to keep an open mind and discuss it looking for safer better ways. And, it is my opinion, there should always be some regulated method of monitoring the banding process including those who are certified. Tess Cumbie Buladean NC =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx (423) 764-3958 =========================================================