Bird banding in Asia: Contributions, challenges, and prospects
Issued Date
2026-06-01
Resource Type
eISSN
20537166
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105029049477
Journal Title
Avian Research
Volume
17
Issue
2
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Avian Research Vol.17 No.2 (2026)
Suggested Citation
Liu D., Round P.D., Chen W., Zhao T., Mizuta T., Kharitonov S.P., Kim D.W., Berdikulov B., Davaasuren B., Choi C.Y., Li D., Moulin A., Chen L., Zhang G., Zhang Z., Jiang H. Bird banding in Asia: Contributions, challenges, and prospects. Avian Research Vol.17 No.2 (2026). doi:10.1016/j.avrs.2026.100346 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/114866
Title
Bird banding in Asia: Contributions, challenges, and prospects
Author's Affiliation
Københavns Universitet
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
Chinese Academy of Forestry
Al Farabi Kazakh National University
Faculty of Science, Mahidol University
A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution Russian Academy of Sciences
Duke Kunshan University
Ministry of Environment Korea
Institute of Zoology Republic of Kazakhstan
MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering
Yamashina Institute for Ornithology
Wildlife Science and Conservation Center of Mongolia
Hong Kong Bird Watching Society
National Parks Board
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
Chinese Academy of Forestry
Al Farabi Kazakh National University
Faculty of Science, Mahidol University
A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution Russian Academy of Sciences
Duke Kunshan University
Ministry of Environment Korea
Institute of Zoology Republic of Kazakhstan
MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering
Yamashina Institute for Ornithology
Wildlife Science and Conservation Center of Mongolia
Hong Kong Bird Watching Society
National Parks Board
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Bird banding is internationally recognized as one of the most useful and cost-effective methods for avian monitoring. While widely adopted in Europe and North America—where it has played a pivotal role in collecting foundational data, significantly advancing the understanding of avian demography, migration, population dynamics, and conservation—bird banding in Asia lags considerably behind. Given Asia's rich avian diversity and the severe threats the birds face, there is an urgent need to promote increased bird banding as part of a strategy to effectively conserve both resident and migratory birds and protect their habitats across the region. However, information on the overall status of bird banding in Asia remains scarce, limiting the development of future initiatives in this field. To address this gap, based on integrative methods of banding data analysis, a literature review, and a questionnaire survey across 16 major Asian countries, we delineate the history and status of bird banding across the region, and review how bird banding efforts contributed to the collection of standardized data supporting avian conservation and research. We identify the key challenges facing bird banding in Asia, with a focus on the lack of legislation and policy support, shortage of trained personnel, and incomplete bird banding network. As a response, we indicate the prospects for the future development of Asian bird banding, highlighting priorities of establishing clear and consistent protocols, training and recruiting qualified banders, building and connecting banding networks, and expanding the educational and outreach role of banding stations. We offer new insights into promoting Asian bird banding as an indispensable bird monitoring tool in the challenges of avian conservation at both the flyway and global scales.