Whio foot showing band
Image: Ross Henderson | DOC

Bird banding

Introduction

We coordinate the banding of birds within New Zealand. Find out why it’s important to band birds, what to do if you find a banded bird, and how to become a certified bander.

Highlights

Bird bands (rings) are a permanent marking technique used to identify individual birds. Each metal band carries its own unique prefix and number. Bands allow researchers and conservation managers to study the life cycle (births, deaths, age of breeding), habits such as bird behaviour, breeding activities and what they eat, and also the movements of birds.

Our National Bird Banding Office coordinates the New Zealand National Bird Banding Scheme (NZNBBS). It leads the certification process and issues banding certificates. It also supports the training of banders, manages banding data and supplies bands and other equipment to banders.

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