Also see Tree Swallows on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Nest Box Cam Banding the tree swallow will allow us to track where it will end up in a few years. To band the hatchling we gently lift it from the nest.
Tree swallows are large enough to be banded nine days after hatching.
A trained and licensed scientist attaches the band to the bird's leg with special banding pliers. The band is gently closed around the leg. Then it is rotated to make sure it is not binding and to double-check the tracking number. Next, we take measurements of the bird. We measure its wing length and check the progress of the growing feathers.