9.2 New Zealand National Bird Banding Scheme

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Database Title	9.2 New Zealand National Bird Banding Scheme
Keywords Type1. Type 11.	Birds, distribution, terrestrial, freshwater, marine. Bird banding.
Abstract	The electronic database contains recovery data from the New Zealand national banding scheme for game and non-game birds. In addition there is a paper record of every bird banded. A total of 249 species have been banded and the total number of banded birds is 1 250,000. In the 1996/7 banding year 25,076 birds were banded. Most of these were non-game species. The ratio of recovered bands (physically or sighted) to banded birds varies between species. For seabirds the rate of recovery is relatively low. Other species are more regularly recovered. For species that leave New Zealand there is international cooperation on protocols for banding.
Geographical Coverage	New Zealand. The database also includes data on birds banded overseas but recovered in New Zealand, and vice versa.
Dataset start date.	Early 1950s. The earlier data is difficult to access.
Dataset end date.	Current.
Status/currency.	In progress.

Technical Evaluation
Parameters- what is measured	Initial banding: bird species operator; banding region, latitude and longitude banding day, month and year bird age and sex status of the bird when it was banded Recovery: location bird recovered in latitude and longitude (physically or sighted) who recovered the bird how the bird was recovered status of the bird whether original or repeat recovery
Parameters- what is calculated	Distance travelled by the bird over what time since the bird was banded/last recovered.
Data sources/methods	Data is from the national bird-banding scheme. All banding is logged on special forms. Only those with banding permits are permitted to band birds under the scheme. Recoveries are both by approved operators and the public. All recovered bands are sent to the National Museum and then on to DOC
Scale.	Location is reported to the nearest ten minutes latitude and longitude
Number of records	There are approx. 1,250,000 banded birds and approximately 400,000-500,000 recoveries including repeat recoveries.
GIS compatibility	Data is recorded at points. These points are not precisely located.
Available format	There is a series of banding and recovery computer files. Information is often published as scientific papers/management agency reports. Summary data is available.
Access constraints	The data belongs to those who band birds. Permission has to be obtained from the bander before that data can be released from the database. The database manager will identify whose permission is required.
Measurement Accuracy	Depends on purpose.
Completeness of dataset	Not comprehensive.
Positional precision
Database steward	Department of Conservation
Database custodian	New Zealand National Banding Scheme, c/- Department of Conservation
Database custodian contact person	Roderick Cossee Manager of the New Zealand National Banding Scheme
Database custodian Contact Address Phone Fax Email	C/- DOC Box 10 420 Wellington +61 4 471 0726 +61 4 471 3279 rcossee@doc.govt.nz
References	Cossee, R.O. 1998. Report on bird banding in New Zealand 1995/1996. Science for Conservation:93. Department of Conservation.
Date metadata record prepared.	October 1999
Author of metadata record.	Victoria Froude

Management Evaluation
Original purpose.	The database was established to organise bird-banding data in New Zealand and to prevent data loss, especially when birds are recovered by the public. The objective of the bird-banding scheme is to accurately record information about bird life expectancy and bird movements. It is a necessary tool for most avian research, and can only be accurate if strictly controlled especially where additional marking methods are involved.
Relationships with classification systems.	N/A
Relationships with other databases	The New Zealand National Banding Scheme links with other international bird banding schemes to provide information on migratory species.
Known relationships with proposed EPIP indicators.	N/A
Who uses this database?	Researchers and managers. Banding operators come from universities, Department of Conservation, New Zealand Fish and Game Council, museums, OSNZ and special study projects. A large number of research and management projects make use of the bird banding scheme and database. In 1995/96 43 projects were supported by the bird banding scheme (Cossee,1998).
Public awareness of the database	Approximately 6900 bird bands recovered in 1998. About 1900 of those bands were recovered by the public.
Database strengths.	All bird banding data goes through a single point (i.e. the database manager) Bird banding data is collected following carefully prescribed protocols Large database with records dating to early 1950's Links with other international bird banding systems to provide information on migratory species.
Database limitations.	The geographical positioning used by the database is not precise because latitude and longitude is measured to the nearest ten minutes. It is intended that this will be changed to the nearest minute.

What are the Current and Emerging Uses of the Database for:
Assisting with determining historic state/baseline.	Where there are long-term banding data sets for particular species or populations this data can be used to assist with the identification of trends since the time of banding for those species or populations.
Assisting with determining current state/baseline.	Where there is adequate banding data this can be used (often in association with other information) to describe the current state for particular species/populations.
Assisting with modeling possible future outcomes.	Analyses of species and population trends shown by the database could be used to model possible future trends for those species/populations.
Risk assessment.	The data may assist with identifying species/populations at risk.
Monitoring site selection and sample design.	N/A
Aggregating and reporting data locally, regionally or nationally.	The database formalises data collection by many research and management projects. It is not "representative" in the sense of a systematic national sampling strategy. Basic database facts can be aggregated and reported at different levels (e.g. number of bands recovered)