The Eastern Bird Banding Association is scheduling its next North American Banding Council (NABC) certification session for land birds at the Bander level for up to six candidates seeking or already possessing a U.S. or Canadian banding permit or subpermit; and at the Trainer level for up to three candidates, for 25-27 Sep 2009 at Braddock Bay Bird Observatory (BBBO) near Rochester, NY. Applications may be obtained from and submitted, no later than 15 Aug, to Elizabeth W. Brooks, 5540 Jericho Hill Road, Alfred Station, NY 14803; e-mail: brookser@earthlink.net; phone: 607-587-9571.

NABC manuals and further details are available from the NABC website at www.nabanding.net/nabanding/  Accepted candidates will be notified by no later than 22 Aug. Those seeking Bander certification are encouraged to contact a NABC Trainer (see website) as early as possible to proctor the written examination portion of the certification prior to coming to BBBO; however, for those not able to do so, the examination may be taken at BBBO by prior arrangement. Passing the examination is required in order to do the field evaluation at BBBO.

The three Trainer openings are for persons who have been either previously Bander certified or achieve Bander certification at this session. Previously certified Banders are not required to retake the written examination if their grade was 90 or better. Persons not yet Bander certified who apply for both the Bander and Trainer candidate positions being offered at this session will be evaluated for Trainer based only on first passing the Bander certification at this session and having a written examination score of 90 or better.

Robert P. Yunick (e-mail: anneboby@aol.com)

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