NEBR KNOWLEDGE ACADEMY
Bird record checklist
Use this companion checklist to organise the information and evidence for each bird. Mark anything unknown rather than guessing.
Sources checked: 26 October 2026 · Published by NEBR Ltd
A practical checklist, not a universal list of legal duties. Licensed operators must also follow their own conditions and record-retention requirements.
In this guide
Identity and description
Record the bird’s given name, common and scientific names, NEBR reference if allocated, colour or mutation, sex and evidence for it, hatch date or estimate, and country of birth where known. Mark unknown or declared information clearly.
Physical identification
Record the complete ring inscription, ring type, leg and whether it remains in place. Keep the full microchip number separately, with implantation and scan evidence. Note any removed or replaced identifier and the professional record linking old and new details.
Photographs and supporting evidence
Keep dated overall, face and side views, distinguishing features and safe identification close-ups. Retain original image files, laboratory reports with sample identifiers, receipts, agreements, correspondence and applicable permits. Note where the originals are stored.
Acquisition and responsibility
Record the acquisition date, source, previous keeper and basis of acquisition. Distinguish legal owner, day-to-day keeper and any loan arrangement. File the signed agreement and a list of documents supplied.
Breeding and parentage
Record clutch and temporary chick references, hatch observations, breeding pair identifiers, fostering and ring allocation. Label parentage as observed, declared or supported by a specific laboratory report. Preserve uncertainty rather than filling gaps.
Events and changes
Keep dated entries for transfers, confirmed identification checks, significant veterinary documents, loss or recovery, death and corrections. For a correction, retain the old value, new value, date, reason and evidence. Do not reuse a deceased bird’s identity.
Storage, sharing and review
Use one master file per bird with consistent filenames. Maintain secure backups and check they can be opened. Share relevant information securely at handover, retain important originals appropriately and update each separate register. Review the file whenever new evidence arrives.
For licensed businesses
Add the issuing authority, licence holder, reference, activity, premises, authorised species and numbers, conditions, expiry and inspection records. Follow the actual licence’s records and retention conditions. This checklist is a practical aid, not a statement that every listed item is legally required of every private keeper.
