Hands-On Beginning Bird Banding

A hands-on introduction to bird banding, a foundational method in ornithological research and wildlife monitoring, begins with a Zoom lecture on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 6:30 PM covering history, purpose, federal and state permitting, data submission to the Bird Banding Laboratory, capture and handling techniques, and determining sex and age. Two full days of field training follow on November 21 and 22 in Riverside, California, where participants assist in capturing, handling, and banding birds under professional supervision, and entry to Joshua Tree National Park is not required. The entry-level course is open to all with no prior banding experience required, though basic bird identification skills are helpful, and completion is required to enroll in Advanced Bird Banding next season. Meals and equipment are not provided, participants arrange their own transportation, and the outdoor portion involves less than 2 miles of leisurely walking; only one discount may be applied per registration, and the instructor is Stephen J. Myers, a federally permitted bird bander since 1990.

Summary compiled from listings on Joshua Tree National Park Association – Events and Visit 29 – Twentynine Palms Events.