- PROGRAMS
- IBP Programs Home Page
- MAPS - Monitoring Avian Productivity
and Survivorship - MoSI - Monitoring Overwinter Survival
- Regional Science and Conservation Programs
- Regional Science and Conservation Programs Home
- Sierra Nevada Science and Conservation Program
- Sierra Nevada Science and Conservation Program Home
- Birds and Forest Management
- Birds and Fire
- Birds of Sierra Nevada National Parks
- Conserving Sierra Nevada Birds of Prey
- Willow Flycatcher Conservation
- Restoring Montane Meadows and
Riparian Habitat - Monitoring Birds at California's
Vehicular Recreation Areas - Pacific Northwest Science and Conservation Program
- Southwest Science and Conservation Program
- Pacific Islands Science and Conservation Program
- Pollinator Ecology and Conservation
- Molt and Plumage Studies
- Bird Bander Training
- Burrowing Owl Research and Monitoring
MAPS MANUAL AND MAPS OPERATOR RESOURCES
Materials for MAPS Station Operators
Listed below are the materials necessary for the operation of MAPS stations.
Please visit the MAPSNet page for information on how to submit MAPS data using MAPSNet.
MAPS Manual
Banding Data Sheets
Forms should be printed landscape orientation on legal (8.5” x 14") paper.
Other Required Data Sheets
Habitat Structure Assessment (HSA) Forms
Other Helpful Field Sheets
Empidonax Data Sheet (optional)
List of species in which males can develop brood patches - This document lists those species included in the Identification Guide to North American Birds Part I (Pyle 1997) in which the male can develop a partial, incomplete, or complete brood patch.
MAPS Chat
MAPS Chat is an annual newsletter for MAPS station operators that provides information on ageing and sexing birds, MAPS station operation, profiles of MAPS station operators, and much more.
Latest issue: MAPS Chat Number 25
Visit the MAPS Chat archive to read previous issues.
MAPS Photo Contest
We want to see MAPS banders in action and share your important work with the world! Of course, we love photos of birds- they are the stars of the show- but we also love photos of banders! Whether it's a posed group photo or a candid shot of your team hard at work at the banding table, we want to see the people of the MAPS community too.
The 5 top-rated photographers will receive their choice of an IBP hoodie OR a copy of the 2nd (new) edition of Peter Pyle's Identification Guide to North American Birds, Part 1. Entries are due by Sept. 1st, 2025.
You can submit photos individually or in batches of 10 using the Photo Submission Form linked above. To upload photos using the form, you will need a Google (Gmail) account. If you don't have a Google account, and don't want to create one, PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM & SUBMIT IT ANYWAY so that we have your information. Then email your photos separately to Meredith at mswalker@birdpop.org
By submitting your photos, you are giving IBP permission to use them (with attribution to the photographer!) on our social media accounts, and in newsletters, reports, and other publications.
To be eligible for a prize in the contest, photos must meet IBP's guidelines for public-facing communications. Please review the MAPS Photo Contest Guidelines at the link above. If you have any questions, please email IBP's Communications Specialist, Meredith Walker, at mswalker@birdpop.org.
Photo Credits: Top of Page: Kelly Colgan Azar; Right Column: Teddy Llovet, Dan Pancamo
COOPERATIVE PROJECTS
Feather Sampling Protocol
IBP, in collaboration with the UCLA Center for Tropical Research and the Bird Genoscape Project, conducts feather-sampling during the breeding season for a suite of target species. These samples contribute to the Neotropical Migrant Conservation Genetics Project. Please click for the 2025 Feather Sampling Protocols.
Avian Flu and Banding Station Safety
Avian flu is a concern to anyone that handles birds, including MAPS banders. At this time, the risks are greatest to those handling birds in dense flocks and are much lower for passerine banders. IBP isn't recommending PPE at this time, but if banders want to wear it, we won't discourage it.
The summarized recommdations from both the Canadian and US governments is to keep washing/sanitizing your hands after each bird. Washing is better than hand sanitizer if you have access to a washing station.
These are some links with more information:
North American Banding Council Publications
Several publications are available for download here, including:
- The North American Banders' Study Guide
- The North American Banders' Manual for Banding Passerines and Near-passerine
Identification Guides
Peter Pyle's Identification Guides, Volumes I and II are available for sale from Slate Creek Press.
Dan Froehlich's Photographic Companion, Ageing North American Landbirds by Molt Limits and Plumage Criteria: A Photographic Companion to the Identification Guide to North American Birds, Part 1 is available for download.
Peter Pyle's Instructions for taking open-wing digital images (pdf) is available for download here: Taking Open-wing Digital Images.
