PSBO offers a tiered bander training program to guide interested volunteers from novice to experienced bander. The programs include:
- Banding Presentation: 1-2 hour presentation on why and how to band birds.
- Introduction to Bird Banding: a weekend field and classroom class demonstrating banding techniques with classroom discussions and presentations on data collection and the importance of banding data.
- Cascades Banding Camp: a week-long intensive field training in basic bird-handling, ageing and sexing of birds and mist-netting.
- Advanced Bander Training: 3-5 day intensive classes on specific banding-related techniques, typically focusing on ageing techniques based on skull ossification and plumage criteria using the Pyle guide.
- Bander’s Apprentice: 1-2 year intensive banding commitment with one-on-one guidance from master banders to apply banding skills to a variety of groups (e.g., hummingbirds, raptors, shorebirds, waterfowl), explore other capture techniques, work with other ornithologists, and design and carry out a banding project.
