The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-08-20

States Department of Agriculture, Washington
d. G.
With the establishment Of a well-connected chain
Of trapping stations throughout the United S'a.e
and Canada regular returns" are confidently eA
pected through reports Of retrapping blros .na'
were banded at the original and other stalions
Data thus afforded are already indicating the eA
act line Of migration Of Individual bros the So.
Of travel and innumerabe items OF interest," many
Of which have direct bearing upon the stuuS ~
life histories. A lively interest attaches 70 ="
work In that each operator OF stauon 70 ~
continual state of anticipation through the Kno"'
edge that birds banded at other stations may a'
any time be registered at his own traps.
The bands issued by the biological survey are OF
two types splitting band (sizes to Q. inclusive,
for all small Birds including those OF the SIZE "
crows small owls and herons; and a fat-strip
band that IL adjustable for all larger birds For
general land bird trapping the government spar
row trap has been found the most satisfactory.
Other traps (there are several that may De pur'
chased in the open market) may also give satiS-
faction, but there is a distinct advantage In nav
ing standard type that birds may come to rec
ognixe as source Of food. and Tor this reason II
70 recommended that this trap be used
The circular contains specifications SUFFICIENT to
enable anyone with moderate skill in the use OF
tools (tin ships, pliers, file, and hammer) to con-
struet the government" sparrow trap In a few
hours and at nominal cost.
Problems that can be solved by bird banding In
clude these:
How fast do the individuals Of any species trav-
Il on their periodic migrations that is. how many
miles per day will any one bird average during
these Journeys and what Is the total time COM
sumed in a tripf
Does any one flock continue in the van or is the
advance made by successive focks passing one over
the other in alternate periods Of rest and fight7
Do individuals Of any species always follow the
t. 10 ffro1 for
fall nightsf
Do migrating birds make the same stop-overs
every year to feed7
How long do birds remain In one locality during
the migration the breeding, or the winter seasons7
what il the relation between the breeding and
the wintering grounds OF individuals; that 49, 90
those birds that breed farthest north winter far
thest south. thus jumping over those that occupy
the intermediate zone, or do they merely replace
the latter individuals ~ winter residents9
Do birds adopt the same nesting area, nest site.
ana winter quarters during successive seasonsf
For how many broods WIN one pair remain
mated, and which bird. II not BOTH Is attracted
next year to the old nesting site3
70 what extent do males OF q species assist In
incubation and br0odingI
How far from their nests do birds forage for
food and after the young have left the nest. Will
re narent birds bring them to the feeding and
trapping station9
70 what region do the birds 60, particularly
tho young. that do not return to the vicinity Of
their original nests3
How long do birds livef
Tor the solution Of these and related problems,
Il e important that the raps always be set on the
original site for birds already have returned to
~ saraa traps through four or nve consecutive
.easons. Many returns viii. in the course Of
ftme AFFORD answers to the important problems
here presented.
M n handling small birds the utmost care must
e exercised. II b Of vital importance that they
- 20 handled that they may be liberated In per-
fect condition Almost without exception they are
! highly nervous and quick pressure Dy the OPP
.refcr Following some spasmodic struggle OF the
hir NAV XIII ii instantly or 30 seriously injure 1t
"a 3 make its destruction necessary Further