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This article presents a review of data in literature which deal with the challenges and opportunities for conventional banding in modern raptor science. Specific aspects of banding efforts are explored which include the reporting of regional and continental summaries of banding encounters accumulating from the efforts, the use of banding in population monitoring and measurement of mortality, and the assessment of leapfrog and chain migration in species. Recommendations on how banding can continue to serve the discipline are given.

This article presents a summary of raptor encounter records at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL). The BBL has received approximately 54,000 encounter reports of banded raptors of 52 species since the inception of the North American Bird Banding program through 2008. Raptors that are commonly encountered include the Bald Eagle, the Golden Eagle, Great Horned Owl, Snowy Owl and the Peregrine Falcon. Raptor encounter reports indicate the decrease in the incident of birds being shot but an increase in mortality rate due to vehicle collisions.