Guidelines to the Use
of Wild Birds in Research
The 2010 revision released in February 2010 has been
re-formatted and updated. If you downloaded the full document or any of the
chapters, please substitute the August 2010 update, as page numbers have
changed and several paragraphs of new text have been added. See Release Notes
for details.
Chapter index
Prefatory Matter (PDF)
Cover page
Author information
Copyright notice
Dedication
Acknowledgments
About the Ornithological Council
Suggested citation
Table of contents
Introduction (PDF)
Overview
Context: the of wild birds
History of Guidlines to the use of wild birds in research
Our approach
Pratical limitations and general guidance for application
Regulatory agencies and other organizations
United States
Canada
Private organizations
International organizations
The oversight of research involving animals: legal basis and implementation
United States
Are birds covered?
Are field studies covered?
Application of the Animal Welfare Act outside the United States
Overview of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee system
Standards of review for field studies: a note for ornithologists
Standards of review for field studies: a note for institutional Animal
Care and
Use Committees
Population-level impacts
Canada
Additional consideration
Publication
The importance of publishing methods papers
Impacts of Investigator Presence (PDF)
Overview
Preliminary studies to assess impacts
Impacts associated with investigator presence
Nest visits
Aircraft overflights
Boats
Approach and nearness to sensitive areas
Suggestions for field researchers
Capture and Marking (PDF)
Overview
General Considerations
Capture methods
Mist nets
Cannon and rocket nets
Funnel traps
Trapping at nest sites
Raptors
Capture myopathy
Markings
General considerations
Metal bands
Colored leg bands
Dyes and ultraviolet markers
Neck collars
Nasal disks and saddles
Patagial (wing) markers and leg tags
Radio/satellite transmitters
Significant new literature (published after Feb 2010):
How safe is mist netting? evaluating the risk of injury
and mortality to birds. 2011. Spotswood, E.N., K.R. Goodman, J.
Carlisle, R.L. Cormier, D.L. Humple, J. Rousseau, S.L. Guers, and G.G.
Barton. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. Article first published online: 30 June 2011. DOI: 10.1111/j.2041-210X.2011.00123.x
Available online (open access):
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.2041-210X.2011.00123.x/pdf
Transport of wild birds (PDF)
Overview
Regulatory guidlines
Considerations for all types of transportation
Containers
Food and water
Timing and duration
Specific modes of transportation
Air transport
Ground transport
Health and safety during and after transport
Stress and physiological considerations
Disease
Quarantine
Captive Management (PDF)
Overview
Regulatory requirements and oversight
Quarantine of animals
Prevention and control of animal disease
First aid
Separation by species
Daily care
Caging and housing
Enrichment for birds in captivity
General maintenance
Special considerations for aquatic birds
Raptors
Identification and raptors
Disposition of birds after experiments
Variations on standard procedure
Zoonoses and other risks to humans
Minor Manipulative Procedures (PDF)
Overview
Wild birds studied in captivity
Collection of blood samples
Impacts of collection on survival and behavior
Choice of methods
Stopping bleeding
Blood samples
Repeated sampling
Alternate means to obtain blood of marterial for genetic studies, stable isotope
analysis, and contaminants
Collection of other tissues
Collection of food samples
Neck ligatures on nestlings
Fecal analysis and pellet analysis
Stomach and crop flush
Emetics
Force Feeding
Cloacal lavage
Injections and insertion of implants
Determination of egg viability
Playback of recorded vocalization and the use of decoys
Artificial eggs
Experimental manipulation of plumage
Significant new literature (published after Feb 2010):
Multistate Mark-Recapture Analysis
Reveals no Effect of Blood Sampling on survival and recapture of
Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus). 2011. Redmond, L.J. and M.T. Murphy. Auk 128:514-521.
Elevated corticosterone in
feathers correlates with corticosterone-induced decreased feather
quality: a validation study. 2011. Lattin, C.R., J.M. Reed, D.W.
DesRochers, and L.M. Romero. Journal of Avian Biology 42:247-252. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-048X.2010.05310.x
(PDF courtesy of the authors)
Major Manipulative Procedures (PDF)
Overview
Intended fate of subject
Pre-surgery
General consideration
Aseptic technique
Physical restraint
Pain management
Access to controlled substances
Analgesia
General anesthesia
Drug combinations
Local anesthesia
Surgery
Positioning
Monitoring
Incision closure and treatment
Specific field surgeries
Laparotomy
Implantation of transmitters
Post-surgery
Euthanasia
Scientific Collecting (PDF)
Overview
Purpose of scientific collecting
Alternatives
Impact of populations
Humane methods
Appendix A (PDF)
To save a bird carcass for science
Suggested citation
With the publication of the 2010 revision of Guidelines to the
Use of Wild Birds in Research, the print version is discontinued. We
encourage you to cite the internet version by including the URL
(www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/guide) and the date accessed, including the
given date of any updates.
Questions and comments
We welcome your comments. Suggestions for substantive changes
will be reviewed by a committee and if accepted, will be incorporated into
the Guidelines. Questions are welcome, but we can not guarantee that
someone will be available to reply. Send comments to:
ellen.paul@verizon.net.
© 1997, 1999, 2010 by The Ornithological Council
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