Last updated April 2023

Contact

Bob Arini
MA Department of Fisheries, Wildlife & Law Enforcement
251 Causeway Street, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02114-2151
Phone (617) 626-1575

Is a state permit required for banding?

Yes. The regulation states:
(4) Categories of Permits. Permits which may be issued pursuant to G.L. c. 131, Sec. 4(2) may   include, but not be limited to, bird-banding, salvage, and scientific collecting permits, or letter permits incorporating specialized authorizations.

Permit application forms

• Application Form for scientific collecting
• Banding: not available online; contact the agency
• Renewal; not available online; contact the agency
• Threatened and Endangered – same application form
• Salvage – not available online; contact the agency

Prior notice

Check permit conditions. Even if not expressly required to do so, you should always contact the manager of that particular state land unit or with the owner of private land before your arrival. You want to be aware of the hunting seasons, and, of course want to be sure that your activities will not interfere with the activities of that park, wildlife management area, or other state land unit, and that your activities will not adversely affect public use of the land or with the activities of private landowners.

Policies

321 Code of Massachusetts Regulations 2.02: Permits to Take or Possess

Threatened and Endangered Species

10.04: Taking and Possession of Species on State and Federal Lists

Listed bird species

E = endangered
T = threatened
SC = special concern

Grasshopper Sparrow	Ammodramus savannarum	T
Saltmarsh Sparrow	Ammospiza caudacuta	SC
Eastern Whip-poor-will	Antrostomus vociferus	SC
Short-eared Owl	Asio flammeus	E
Long-eared Owl	Asio otus	SC
Upland Sandpiper	Bartramia longicauda	E
American Bittern	Botaurus lentiginosus	E
Red Knot	Calidris canutus	T
Piping Plover	Charadrius melodus	T
Northern Harrier	Circus hudsonius	T
Sedge Wren	Cistothorus platensis	E
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	SC
Common Gallinule	Gallinula galeata	SC
Common Loon	Gavia immer	SC
Mourning Warbler	Geothlypis philadelphia	SC
Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	SC
Least Bittern	Ixobrychus exilis	E
Leach’s Storm-petrel	Oceanodroma leucorhoa	E
Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	E
Vesper Sparrow	Pooecetes gramineus	T
King Rail	Rallus elegans	T
Northern Parula	Setophaga americana	T
Blackpoll Warbler	Setophaga striata	SC
Roseate Tern	Sterna dougallii	E
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo	SC
Arctic Tern	Sterna paradisaea	SC
Least Tern	Sternula antillarum	SC
Eastern Meadowlark	Sturnella magna	SC
Barn Owl	Tyto alba	SC
Golden-winged Warbler	Vermivora chrysoptera	E