The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-07-29

more, ii must be remembered that if the data to be
secured from the banding of birds are to be Of
value, the carriers must be strong and healthy and
not handicapped in any way. Under no conditions
may their movements be considered rs average.
To remove a bird from the gathering cage for
banding, reach into the cage BLOCKING the open
ing around the arm with the other hand) and
work the bird into Il corner. 1t will almost surely
De racing away from the operator. Grasp 1t In
Such manner as to piniOn its neck between the
thumb and index finger, and the wing tips, tail,
ana feet by the little finger closed against the palm.
In this position the bird may be held quietly, with
out using undue force. Strangely enough, secur-
ing the birds head or neck will almost invariably
cause 1t 10 cease struggling.
III the bird is already banded and only q simple
examination is necessary, this position need not
be changed, as with the fingers of the free hand
the band may be readily turned and the number
read. Or, the bird may be allowed to perch on
the little hnSer, the neck secured between two
fingers, as before.
TO 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-
lease all other hold and by quickly reversing the
position of the bird, draw it through the free hand
with its back against the palm and close the little
finger 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
tail 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 secure 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
liar size, this Is best accomplished by resting the
bird on the forearm and hand, held horizontally
across the body of the operator, the head and neck
passing to the rrar under the upper arm, which
secures them. This leaves both hands free to hold
the feet and wing tips ard 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 or chafe. The band
should move freely up and down and turn lightly
and smoothly, but it should not fit loosely like a
bracelet. A pair of small, pointed pliers, such as
opticians use, are practically Indispensable for this
work.
Do not attempt to band birds recently Matched
or but a few days old wait until they are fully
tiedged young birds and are about ready to leave
the nest. The legs of most fully hedged young
birds are larger and more feShy than those Of the
adults, so that no allowance for growth need be
made. Water birds are an exception to this rule.
Adjustable flat-strip bands, having considerable
thickness and equipped with a special locking de-
vice, require rather more skill to attach. The
pointed pliers, before mentioned, are absolutely
necessary and in addition a pair Of stout scissors
or a pair Of diagonal wire cutters will be needed
to trim off excess length.
The band may first be roughly shaped around a
finger and then opened sufficiently to admit the
birds leg. 1t is now pressed together and its dt-
ameter reduced. to the point where it fits smoothly.
The second pair Of nibs from the lock end are next
bent over and pinched tight with the pliers. The
strip Is now bent back, the bend pinched together
as close as possible. and locked with the first pair
of locking nibs. The excess length of the band is
then trimmed off and the end pressed down smooth
ly with the pliers.
See that the number is on the outside. Attach
ing these bands requires care and patience, for the
stiffness of the metal is sufficient to break a birds
leg II not properly handled-put all pressure on
the band and not on the leg and there will be no
trouble.
Write down the band number at once; do not
trust to memory. A band wrongly read may total.
ly d~isqualify what otherwise would be a most val.
liable set of data. Each collaboration should keep
a permanent record of his operations.
Report results frequently. Franked envelopes
will be supplied for returning the schedules. which
during the busy season should be Mt least once