The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-07-29

more IL 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 ana
not Handicapped in any way Under no conditions
may their movements be considered as average.
To-remove bird from the gathering cage for
banding, reach into the cage (blocking the open
ing around the with the other hand) ana
work the bird into corner. 1t will almost surely
be facing away from the operator. Grasp II IN
such manner TO pinion its, neck between the
thumb and index finger. and the wing tips, taii'
ana feet by the little finger closed against the pam.
In this position the bird may he held quietly With
out using undue force Strangely enough. secur-
ing the birds head neck will almost invariably
cause it to cease struggling.
If the bird is already banded and only simple
examination is necessary this position need not
be changed. as with the fingers of the free hnn'l
the band may be readily turned and the number
read Or. the bird may be allowed 10 perch on
the little finger, 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 1t 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 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 and hold the tarsus while
attaching the band.
For larger and more powerful birds this method
will net 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 mead 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 srnallest-szed 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
sbould move freely up and down and turn lightiy
and smoothly, but it should not fit loosely Ike
bracelet. A pair of small, pointed pliers such as
oteians use are practically Indispensable for this
work.
Do not attempt to band birds recently hatched
mr. but n few days old; wait until they are fuliy
naaoad voung birds and are about ready to leave
the nest The legs of most fully fledged young
birds a,e larger and more feshy than those of the
adults so that allowance for growth need De
made Wafer birds are an exception to this rule.
ADVISABLE fatstrip bands, having considerable
tblckness and equipped with special locking de-
IT, .,,,ire rather more skill to attach. The
non+ed nlers before mentioned, are absolutely
necessary and in addition pair of stout scissors
or a mir of diagonal wire cutters Will be needed
to trim off excess ieneth.
Tho hand first be roughly Slidpeu arouHu a
f,ger and then opened sufficiently to admit the
hird,s leg 1t is pressed together and its di-
o,aa+ar reduced to the point where 1t fits smoothly.
Tho second pair of nibs from the lock end are next
,ont o,sor and pinched tight with the pliers. The
stri,, s now bent back, the bend pinched together
os close MS possible, and locked with the hrst pair
s I,i,, nibs The excess length of the band is
tho, trimmed off and the end pressed down smooth
ly with the pliers
Goo tbat the number is on the outside. Attach
in, those bands requires care and patience, for the
.fses. If tbe metal is sufficient to break birds
loo r. not properly handled-put all pressure on
the hand and not on the leg and there VIII be no
trouble.
vr;ta down the band number at once: do not
.. - memory A hand wrongly read may total
" disoualify what otherwise would be most val
h,a cor of data. Each collaboration should keep
= ,,anent record of his operations.
Report results frequently. Franked envelopes
iii 10 supplied for returning the schedules, which
during the busy season should be at least once
each month.