Because banding birds requires capturing the birds and handling them before the banding takes place, the banding of birds in the United States is controlled under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and requires a federal banding permit.
Some states require a state permit as well.
Only official federal bands may be legally placed on birds that are released to the wild within the United States. Banders are a select group. There are currently only 2000 Master banding permits and 2000 subpermits in the United States. Master Banders include federal and state agencies, university researchers, bird observatories, and private individuals. Waterfowl are banded only by federal and state agencies.