The Idaho recorder., 1921-08-19
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more, 1t must be remembered that If the data to be
secured from the banding of birds are To be of
Vah'c, me carriers must be strong and healthy and
not handicapped In any way. Under no conditions
may Their movements be considered as average
10 remove a bird from the gathering cage for
p"hd'hg, feach into the cage BLOCKING the OPEN
ing around the arm with the other hand) and
work The bird into corner. 1t will almost surely
pe ihcihg away from the operator Grasp 1t In
SUE" nhhher as TO plnlon its neck between the
shuinb and index finger, and the wing tips, tail,
"u iee' py the little finger closed against the palm
IN 'hs position the bird may be held quietly with
ou' using undue force. Strangely enough secur-
ing the BIRDS head neck will almost invariably
cause II to cease struggling
- 'he oird Is already banded and only a simple
examination Is necessary, his position need not
ue changed as with the fingers OF the free hand
the hand may be readily turned and the number
read, Or. the bird may be allowed to perch on
the little finger, the neck secured between two
fingers. as before.
10 place In position for banding. grasp the birds
head lightly but securely with the thumb and the
index and second fingers of the other hand: re-
tease all ether hold and by quickly reversing the
position OF the bird draw 1t through the free hand
with Its back against the palm and close tho LITTLE
hhger over the neck, and the other fingers around
the BODY This position Is exactly the reverse of
the original one, In that the birds feet wings and
tai' are now secured by the second finger, where
formerly this was accomplished by the little finger
against the palm. The thumb and index fingers
are now free to and hold the tarsus while
attaching the band.
For larger and more powerful birds this method
Will not answer. of course but securing the birds
head will In almost every case prove the KEY to
the situation. With ducks and other birds of sim
ilar size, this Is best accomplished by resting tho
bird on the forearm and hand, held horizontally
across the body of the operator, the head and neck
passing to the rear under the upper arm, which
secures them. This leaves both hands free to hold
the feet and wing tips and attach the band
Always select the smallest-sized band that will
close around the tarsus (the bare portion of the
foot or leg Immediately above the toes) without
fitting SO tightly as to bind chafe. The band
should move freely up and down and turn lightly
and smoothly, but II should not ft loosely Ike a
bracelet. A pair of small. pointed pliers such as
opticians use, practically Indispensable for this
work.
Do not attempt TO band birds recently hatched
or but few days old wait until they are fully
hedged young birds and are about ready to ieaye
the nest. The legs of most fully hetiged Young
birds ale larger aud more ieshy than those OF the
ADULTS, SO that no allowance for growth need he
made Water birds are an exception to this rule
Adjustable hatstrp bands having considerable
thickness and equipped with special locking de-
Vice, require rather more skin to attach The
pointed pliers, before mentioned. are absolutely
necessary and In addition pair OF stout scissors
or a pair of diagonal wire cutters win be needed
To trim of excess length.
The band may first be roughly shaped around n
hnger and then opened sufficiently to admit the
hinds leg Is nov pressed together and its di.
ameter reduced to the point where II fits smoothly
The second pair of nhs from the lock end are next
bent over and pinched tight with the pliers The
strip Is now bent back the bend pinehed together
as close as possible and locked with the first nar
OF locking nies The excess length Of the band is
then trimmed OF and the end pressed down smooth.
ly with the pliers
See that the number is the outside Attach
INK these hands requires and patience for the
stiffness of the metal is sufficient to break birds
leg IL not property handed-put all pressure on |
the band and not on the leg and there will be no
trouble.
Write down the band number nj once. do no, |
trust to memory, 4 band wrongly read may total |
" disanaitfs what otherwise would be most val. |
oao'e SET OF data Each coliaborator should keep |
permanent record of his operations
Report results frequently rranked envsIons. |
VIII be supplied for returning the schedules which
during the busy season should he at leas, ,nca
each month. !