The North American Banding Council (NABC) is a nonprofit group encompassing bird research organizations whose members use bird banding as a tool in ornithological research, conservation, and management.  The mission of the NABC is to promote sound and ethical bird banding practices and techniques.  To accomplish this, the NABC has developed educational and training materials for bird banders, including manuals on general banding techniques as well as techniques manuals for specialized taxonomic groups including passerines and near-passerines, raptors, hummingbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl.  NABC has developed taxon-specific bander certification programs at assistant bander, bander, and trainer levels to promote excellence in banding and data collection.  NABC is also committed to international capacity building and supports international training and development of coordinated banding schemes in the Western Hemisphere. Klamath Bird Observatory has been very active in the NABC since its inception, with staff serving as Council members and committee chairs while contributing to the various education and training materials.  KBO incorporates NABC bird safety and data excellence guidelines into our banding operations and bander training program.