The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-26
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HAsKIN, Director.
Washington, D. c.
BANDING THE BIRDS.

! times OF two continents, would seem
an impossible undertaking; but the
United States Biological Survey is now
preparing to do this very thing. DIR.
H. c. Oberholser, who told us about
/ il, and other ornithologists at the bu-
reau are confident of obtaining results
of the greatest importance and in
terest.
The method by which this study is
to be carried on is that of banding the
birds-that is. catching them in traps,
making a record of species, age, sex
and places of capture, then placing
band with a number and address on
it about a leg of each bird and releas-
ing it aain. When this bird is recap
| tured, or in the case of a game bird,
perhaps killed, something is learned
of its travels and habits and the
length of its life. When one bird is
caught repeatedly, or when a number
of birds of certain species have
been caught, a great deal may be
! learned about the habits of that kind
of bird. The information so gained,
especially that about the travels of
the birds. will be of the greatest prac-
teal value in the making of regula-
! tons and international treaties under
the migratory bird law which has
given such wonderful results in the
increase of migratory birds. It is
known, for example, that many birds
travel from North America to South
America and to the West Indies, and
il is expected, when more information
about these migrants has been gained
! by trapping, to make treaties with
these nations. similar to that which
we now have with Canada, for the
protection of these birds.
Study of Habits Important.
But the immediate and practical
value of the studies is the smallest
part of their interest to the scientists.
They say that as the work progresses
and the number of birds under OBJ
servation increases, numerous facts
will be discovered about their habits
which cannot now be forecast. The
science of ornithology heretofore has
been enga ged largely in the prelimi-
nary work of identifying and classify
ing the birds. Little systematic study
| has been given to their habits. The
work of classification was of course
necessary, but only as preliminary to
| the study of bird habits. 1t is this
Halter study which really increases the
value of birds to man, by teaching
him how to protect those that are of
value and get rid of those that are
not. The Importance to man of two
great groups of birds-those that de-
stroy insects and those that furnish
food and sport-can scarcely be over
estimated, and it is these that will be
studied first.
This bird banding is not an expert
ment. 1t has been carried on in Eu-
rope for about twenty years and in
the United States for at least half
that long by the American Bird Band
ing association, the work of which
latter organization is now being taken
over by the United States government.
The Biological Survey is now asking
for volunteers to help carry on the
work, and anyone who is interested
should get in touch with that bureau.
nil Oh Ho c
and Instructions how to trap, handle
and band the birds, but the expense
of the work must be borne by the in
dividual. The survey hopes to estab-
lish strings of trapping stations"
across and up and down the country,
so that it will get reports from all
sections. Persons who live in the
country or in the suburbs, who are
interested in birds, and who know
by sight the varieties of birds in their
own neighborhoods are qualified for
the work. In other words, you must
be pretty good amateur ornitholo-
gist to do this work, and you must
have the patience to carry it on for
a long period of time in order to get
valuable results. If you are willing
and able to do this, you have now an
opportunity to make a real contribu-
ton to science.
Faithless Wrens.
The methods of bird trapping have
! been perfe cted, and some remarkable
| results already obtained by members
| of the American Bird Banding associa-
ton. Special credit is due to S Prem
tiss Baldwin, wealthy man who has
one country place in Ohio and another
in Georgia, and who has carried on
| bird banding operations at both of
| these places for a number of years.
| Doctor Oberholser calls Baldwin's
work the greatest contribution to the
method of study in ORTHODOXY which
has been made in the last thirty years,
and Baldwin's work is an inspiring
example of a man of leisure taking up
a science as a hobby and doing origi-
nal work in it of a high order.
Limits of space will not permit of a
detailed account of Baldwin's work,
but some of the results he has OBJ
tanned may be recounted to show how
little Is actually known about the
habits of birds, and how this method
of exact study gets at the truth. Birds,
for example, have often been cited as
examples OF conjugal affection The
male and female work together to
build the nest and raise the brood,
and it has been said of many species
that each bird sticks to the same
mate year after year. This beautiful
legend may be true of some birds, but
Mr.. Baldwin demonstrated that it is
not altogether true of wrens. He
banded a pair of nesting wrens on his
Georgia place and later in the season
captured both of them again. Each
of the wrens had at that time taken
a new mate and was engaged III rails
ing a new family.
One of the questions that has long
puzzled ornithologists is whether birds
travel each year the same routes in
their migrations. and spend the win
ters and summers in the same places.
Mr.. Baldwin found this to be exactly
true of certain species. The same
white-throated sparrows came year
after year to his place in Georgia,
spending successive winters not only
in the same vicinity, but literally about
the same bush.
Birds Have Character.
Mr.. Baldwin used IN his operations
the government sparrow trap, which
, Injuries the bird very little or not at
! -.