Calgary Bird Banding Society - Dedicated to the Research and Conservation of Birds

Reporting Encounter of Marked Bird with a Metal Federal Band
If you do find a banded bird or a bird band, report it online by
clicking here


Population Trends

Trend analysis of Neotropical Migrant Birds is the most important result of CBBS migration monitoring research particularly at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary (IBS). Current (through 2019) IBS trend analysis for spring is available in tabular form by clicking here and graphical form by clicking here. Current (through 2019) IBS trend analysis for fall is available in tabular form by clicking here and graphical form by clicking here. Methodology behind the trend analysis results is available by clicking here.

Insights that potential users of our trend analyses should be aware of are available by clicking here.

CBBS has also quantified the geographical origin of populations that are being monitored at IBS using stable isotope analysis of over 2000 feathers collected from birds of 29 species banded during migration monitoring. Methodology of the stable isotope results leading to origin depictions is available by clicking here. Origin depictions by species and season confining the data to Canada are available by clicking here. Origin depictions by species and season including Alaska where appropriate are available by clicking here.

Trend analysis for other stations in the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN) are available at the Nature Counts website operated by Bird Studies Canada by clicking here.

CBBS Bird Banding


Prothonotary Warbler
Belize 2015
(Photo by Dave Ealey)

Bird banding is an integral aid to the study and protection of wild birds. It is typically facilitated by using a fine net (known as a mist net). Birds that fly into the mist net are gently removed and a permanent aluminum or alternate light-weight band is placed around the lower leg. Usually the birds are measured, weighed, sexed and aged before release back into the wild.




Summer Tanager
Belize 2015
(Photo by Anne Weerstra)



When a banded bird is recovered, the number and information on the band is used to trace migratory patterns and vital data. This information is collated and made available to the banding and scientific communities. The data is invaluable to many scientific studies, including Climate Change and Pollution research. The Calgary Bird Banding Society (CBBS) documents its research available in the form of ATRs (Annual Technical Reports).



Worm-eating Warbler
Belize 2015
(Photo by Dave Ealey)


The primary project of the CBBS is monitoring of Neotropical Migratory Landbirds at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary (IBS), a national Migratory Bird Sanctuary. IBS has long been known as an important migration stopover site for Neotropical migrants. Located within 80-km of the Rocky Mountains, the site is an integral component of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network.



Banding Station
Belize 2015
(Photo by Anne Weerstra)

IBS is also the location of a Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survival (MAPS) site operated by CBBS since 1992. Other currently active CBBS projects include fall migration monitoring of Northern Saw-whet Owls since 2004 at a site near Bragg Creek and spring migration monitoring since 2015 at a site in Belize.




Annual Technical Reports (ATRs)

Annual Technical Reports detail regional and international research conducted by CBBS. Each ATR presents results from all CBBS projects active during the year and includes research and trend analysis. (click to access CBBS ATRs from 1995 to most current)