If you have been to one of our bird banding programs at Rushton Woods or Brightside Farm Park, we need your help in protecting this research. As some of you may be aware, there are reports that the federal Bird Banding Lab (BBL), which runs the entire U.S. bird banding program, has been slated for elimination as soon as this week, along with the rest of the vital Ecosystems Mission Area at US Geological Survey. The U.S. Geological Survey Ecosystems Mission Area is responsible for many of the programs that serve millions of birders, hunters, anglers, gardeners, biologists, ecologists, and wildlife enthusiasts around the country–and importantly, the wildlife we treasure.
The consequences of such a move on birds and bird conservation would be incalculable. The BBL is the only source for bands and the federal permits. The loss of the banding lab would mean, frankly, an end to years of research. Most of the birds banded in North America are waterfowl, and banding and band return data are central to properly managing our waterfowl populations by setting scientifically defensible hunting seasons and bag limits. No data, and wildlife managers are working half-blind.
A serious concern is that defenders of the BBL manage to salvage the waterfowl management aspects of its work, but that the nongame banding and research is done away with. This has cross-border consequences since the BBL single-sources all the bird bands used in North America, so nongame banding in Canada overseen by the Canadian Wildlife Service would also cease if those elements of its work are eliminated. This is a critical moment for bird conservation! The birds need your voice and involvement.
Please let your Representatives and Senators know that you oppose these cuts.
