We have designed a protocol that keeps social distancing in mind and eliminates any contact. We will set up 4 "mini stations" where we split the nets into 4 groups and have 1 individual extract, band and process all birds captured at those nets with separate equipment. It will be strange but we'll get through this!

Proposed Protocol for MAPS Banding Under Social Distancing GuidelinesGiven that the usual reality of songbird banding at our MAPS station results in very close contact between individuals as birds are examined and banded and the data are recorded and given that the MAPS station is in possession of 3 complete sets of banding tools, I propose the following protocol. To comply with governmental orders for social distancing as well as common sense responses to slow the spread of COVID-19 our station will:

-Designate 3 banders – these will be the only persons to handle the banding tools/equipment until distancing guidelines are lifted or are deemed unnecessary.

-Assign a set of banding tools to each designated bander and label them with the bander’s name.

-Assign 2 mist nets to each bander (more or fewer based on each bander’s comfort level) to be operated by that bander alone unless assisted by a member of the bander’s own household.

-On each banding day, set up 3 banding tables spaced at least 6 feet apart. Each table to be used by one bander for the entire banding session and disinfected at the end of the session.

-If personnel are available, a second individual may be seated at the other end of each table (unless that person is a member of the bander’s own household) to record data as birds are banded.

-Avoid reusing bird bags and immediately place each used bag in a receptacle to be laundered soon after the banding session.

-If a bander becomes overloaded with birds awaiting processing, another bander may remove birds from that person’s net and process them to prevent backlogs.

-Use disinfecting wipes to sanitize the box of bands before and after moving it from one table to another.

-Use separate data forms at each table with the data to be combined on the “official” forms after each day of banding.

-Maintain distancing among personnel as well as keeping personal belongings segregated.

-Have on site: hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and/or 10% bleach solution for equipment, chairs and tables.

-All personnel will wear face masks during communal activities such as set up and take down of the station and utilize disposable gloves when feasible for set up and tear down of station equipment (i.e., canopies, table, chairs.)

-We will be unable to accommodate visitors or trainees during such time as this protocol is needed.

Here is my plan on how to run MAPS safely and ethically:

-We will maintain a safe social distance from one another at all times, no exceptions.

-Carpooling to and from the station is not an option (unless you are sheltered in place together), no exceptions.

-Opening and closing nets:  We will have to do that individually.  No opportunities for training.

-Extraction:  We will "leap-frog" one after the other, a common practice at our station.  We cannot partner up on the same net (unless you're paired with someone who you live with).  If a net has an overwhelming amount of birds and two people can't stay more than six feet away, then only one of us (likely me) will run to the net and take care of extracting all birds left in the net on arrival.  It will be helpful to have an extractor who has finished their route available to shuttle birds back to the station.  As always, it will be very important to have a charged cell phone.

-Common supplies (bird bags, toothpicks, knives):  You will check out a knife and pick for the season and be responsible for bringing it every time (it's probably best to keep them in your vehicle, so you won't forget them).  We'll keep the bags of bags (clean and dirty bags) on the big blue tarp so that folks can pick them up easily.

-Processing birds:  We will assemble the two tables apart from one another, instead of side by side as normal.  One person will be at one table recording data, and the processor will be at the other table by the bird bags.  It will be important to speak loudly and clearly.  Training will still be possible, but more challenging.

-Learning as we go:  We'll talk at the end of each banding day, and talk as a group about what worked well and what could have been better.  We are a team, and I always welcome your ideas now and in the future.

-Preparing for the worst.  We'll probably have to operate fewer nets on many if not all dates, and we might not be able to start on the first banding date, depending on the broader context of the rules regarding COVID-19.  We can skip the first two dates, but if we have to skip any other dates, then we won't do the banding season this year.

Band half the nets from the station one day and the remainder the next day. Scenario: the station has 12 nets but only one set of banding gear. They can't divide into two tables. Only one person can band. Possible solution: run six nets one day, the other six the next day. Sometimes the next day would be better, sometimes worse; randomization would even things out. Banders would have to watch the weather forecasts for two banding days back to back, in each MAPS period. No matter what, there are going to be some small deviation from MAPS protocol - nets are going to be checked in a different sequence, for example - but they would be minimal.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issues permits for bird-handling activities including bird banding (and associated activities), rehabilitation, aviculture, and relocation. These guidelines apply to bird handling authorized by ECCC on scientific permits to capture and handle migratory birds.

During the pandemic, and before proceeding with any bird handling activity, you must determine if your operation will comply with all public health and/or occupational health guidance from federal, provincial/territorial, and local authorities within the relevant jurisdictions, as well as any institutional policies regarding field activities.

Before proceeding, consider if bird handling at this time is critical to your research or if it can be postponed. Consider also whether you are still able to ensure a high level of bird safety and data quality while reducing the risk of Covid-19 spread.

Should you deem that you are able to continue, please note that access to some federal, provincial, territorial and municipal lands has been suspended, and so verify that you have current agreement to access your field locations including private lands. Refer to your provincial or territorial and municipal authority website for the most recent information for your area.

Current scientific knowledge indicates that it is unlikely that birds would be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. However, mammals may be more susceptible to the virus. Since they are sometimes caught incidentally during bird banding operations, extra care is needed to avoid the risk of infecting mammals with the SARS-COV-2 virus, especially as it might then spread through a population. Banders should take extra precautions to avoid capturing or handling any mammals at this time. Bird banding activities that have a high likelihood of mammal interactions should follow the protocols below or not take place at this time.

· Do not go to the field or handle any animals if you are feeling sick or have any symptoms that could be attributable to Covid-19, including coughing, fever and difficulty breathing.

· Employ enhanced hand-washing and/or hand-sanitation procedures.

· Regularly disinfect equipment and surfaces.

· Limit the number of people handling each animal and plan field operations accordingly.

· Use masks and gloves when handling birds if it is feasible and practical to do so.

· Establish dedicated field clothes and equipment, and if possible leave those at the field site (i.e. banding station) or separate from other gear.

· Prepare a contingency plan for how to address any possible encounters with mammals prior to initiating banding operations.

· Do not operate during times or locations that may increase human or equipment contact with mammals (e.g., bats, squirrels, mustelids, felids).

· If you are having problems with mammals harming birds in your nets or traps, contact your provincial or territorial and municipal wildlife authority for guidance on addressing the threat, or else discontinue operations.

· Handle bats and other mammals only when essential.

· Wear gloves (if not available, wash hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) before handling any mammal.

· Wear a mask (surgical–grade if available, if not use a cloth mask).

· Get training for proper use of all protective equipment.

· Disinfect all equipment that could come in contact with wild mammals.

· Follow the CWHC guidance on bats.

· Public Health Agency of Canada information about COVID-19 or contact the Government of Canada’s information line at 1-833-784-4397.

· Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative COVID-19 page

· The North American Banding Council (NABC) special notice to bird banders regarding banding birds during the pandemic.

· Information on non-medical masks and face coverings

· World Organization for Animal Health FAQs on COVID-19

· US Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center bulletin

· Curated literature hub for tracking scientific information on COVID-19

· Bird handling guidelines to address human health and bird to bird transmission for avian influenza

Environnement et changement climatique Canada (ECCC) publie des permis pour les activités qui requièrent la manipulation d’oiseaux, incluant le baguage d’oiseaux (et activités associées), la réhabilitation, l’aviculture et la relocalisation. Ces lignes directrices s’appliquent à la manipulation d’oiseaux autorisée par l’ECCC sur les permis scientifiques de capture et de manipulation d’oiseaux migrateurs.

Pendant la pandémie et avant d’aller de l’avant avec n’importe quelle activité de baguage, veuillez considérer si vos opérations peuvent être mises en marche en respectant les directives du gouvernement sur la santé humaine, la sécurité de l’hygiène et les directives sur les déplacements locaux, l’isolement social et les regroupements afin de réduire le risque de contamination de la COVID-19, en plus de toutes autres politiques institutionnelles en lien avec les activités de terrain.

Avant de procéder, veuillez considérer si vos activités de baguage sont primordiales à votre recherche ou si elles peuvent être repoussées à une date ultérieure. Considérer aussi votre capacité à assurer un haut niveau de sécurité pour les oiseaux et de qualité pour vos données tout en réduisant le risque de propagation de la COVID-19.

Si vous pensez être capables de continuer vos opérations, veuillez noter que les accès aux territoires fédéraux, provinciaux, territoriaux et municipaux ont été suspendus, et donc vérifiez que vous avez les autorisations nécessaires afin d’avoir accès à vos sites de baguage, incluant les propriétés privées. Veuillez vous référer aux site web de vos autorités provinciales et/ou territoriales et municipales pour les informations les plus à jour dans votre secteur.

Les présentes connaissances scientifiques indiquent qu’il est peu probable que les oiseaux soient susceptibles au SARS-CoV-2, le virus causant la COVID-19. Par contre, les mammifères seraient plus à risque pour le virus. Vu qu’ils sont capturés de manière accidentelle durant les opérations de baguage, des précautions supplémentaires sont nécessaires afin d’éviter le risque d’infecter des mammifères avec le virus SARS-CoV-2, spécialement car il pourrait être propagé à travers une population entière. Les bagueurs devraient prendre des mesures de précautions supplémentaires afin d’éviter de capturer ou manipuler n’importe quels mammifères à ce moment-ci. Les activités de baguage qui ont un haut taux de probabilité d’interactions avec des mammifères devraient suivre les protocoles ci-dessous ou ne pas se mettre en marche à ce moment-ci.

· Ne pas aller sur le terrain ou manipuler des animaux si vous vous sentez malades ou si vous présentez des symptômes qui pourraient être attribuables à la COVID-19, incluant une toux, de la fièvre ou une difficulté à respirer.

· Employer des procédures plus avancées du lavage et, ou de la désinfection des mains.

· Désinfecter régulièrement les surfaces et l’équipement.

· Limiter le nombre de personnes qui manipulent chaque animal et planifier les opérations de terrain en prévision.

· Porter des masques et des gants lorsque vous manipulez les oiseaux et lorsque cela est faisable et pratique de le faire.

· Établissez des vêtements et de l’équipement dédiés à ces activités et les laisser sur le terrain, si possible (i.e. à la station de baguage) ou séparément d’autre équipement.

· Préparez un plan de contingentement en prévision des interactions avec des mammifères, et ce avant les activités de baguage.

· Ne pas opérer la station à des heures ou des emplacements où il y aurait un risque élevé de contact entre des humains et des mammifères (e.g. chauves-souris, écureuils, mustélidés, félidés).

· Si vous avez des problèmes avec des mammifères qui prédatent les oiseaux capturés dans vos filets ou vos pièges, contactez votre autorité provinciales ou territoriale et municipale pour plus de conseils de gestion de la menace ou cessez les opérations.

· Manipulez les chauves-souris ainsi que les autres mammifères seulement lorsqu’essentiel.

· Portez des gants (si non-disponibles, lavez vos mains avec du savon et de l’eau ou utilisez un désinfectant pour les mains à base d’alcool) avant de manipuler n’importe quel mammifère.

· Portez un masque (de niveau chirurgical si disponible, sinon utilisez un masque de coton).

· Obtenez de l’entraînement pour l’utilisation standard de tout équipement de protection.

· Désinfecter tout l’équipement qui pourrait entrer en contact avec les mammifères sauvages.

· Suivre les lignes directrices sur les chauves-souris du CWHC.

· Informations provenant de l’Agence de la santé publique du Canada sur la COVID-19 ou contactez la ligne d’information du Gouvernement du Canada au 1-833-784-4397.

· La page COVID-19 du Réseau canadien de la santé de la faune (RCSF)

· L’annonce spéciale du North American Banding Council (NABC) en lien avec le baguage des oiseaux pendant la pandémie (anglais seulement).

· Des informations pertinentes sur les masques non-médicaux et les couvertures de visages

· Questions fréquentes sur la COVID-19 provenant de l’Organisation mondiale de la santé animale

· Le rapport du USGS (US Geological Survey) National Wildlife Health Center (anglais seulement)

· Une revue de littérature pour suivre l’information scientifique sur la COVID-19

· Lignes directrices pour la manipulation d’oiseaux afin d’adresser la santé humaine et la transmission d’oiseau en oiseau pour la grippe aviaire

-Has their own table, at least 6’ from the recorder

-Brings their own chair, water, lunch, personal cleaning/mask

-Ensures all equipment is clean

-Sanitizes hands after each bird

-Sanitizes equipment every hour

-Releases the bird at the banding table

Has their own table, at least 6’ from the bander

Brings their own chair, water, lunch, personal cleaning/mask

Radio for communication with net managers and WPNC staff

One person puts up nets 1-3 and another puts up nets 4-6.

Brings their own chair, water, lunch, personal cleaning/mask

Ensure they have a radio, holding bags and 2 holding boxes to put birds in

Check nets every 30 minutes and take the birds in the box and put it in designated spot, in shade & near banding table and let the banders know

These two people keep the birds seen and heard list and the MAPS breeding list and confer by phone

If lots of birds or another issue with a bird in a net one of the other team members comes to the net and tries to get the bird out and the net person stays 6 feet away. If for any reason, the BIC feels it best, we will close down early.

That afternoon or the next morning - Clean and put up all the equipment, do laundry, fill out summary sheets, and enter banded birds into ebird. Fill up bands for the next session.

Backup, coordinates seen & heard, MAPS breeding list, photos, iNaturalist, public engagement (far from the banding table)

Brings their own chair, water, lunch, personal cleaning/mask