The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-07-30


thanks to the Federal Migratory
Bird act and a treaty with Canada
for its enforcement The importance
ONO Of this fact, aside from all senti-
L&&N ment In regard to the feathered
WNE songsters, Is that without the birds
E@MEN$ we should soon be eaten up by In
tNE7W sect pests. OF course, the more we
know about the migratory birds and
their travels the better we can treat them There
fore, bird-bandlng serves a useful purpose.
The United States Department Of Agriculture
has just published department circular ITO, IN
structiOns for Bird-Banding." by Frederick C. LIN
coin, assistant biologist Of the bureau OF bioogi-
cal survey This circular says, by way Of intro
uuetion, that bird-bandng In America dates from
the early years Of the Nineteenth century, when
Audubon placed silver threads around the legs
Of brood Of phoebes. and was rewarded the fol-
lowing season by having two Of his birds return
70 nest In the same vicinity
Ia Europe bird-banding was attempted as early
~ ITO. but 1t was not until 1899 that 1t was un-
dertaken systematically. Between that year and
1914 about 20 different organizations took up the
work, and their activities have developed much
valuable information.
In the United States active experimental work
was begun in 1901, and between that year and
1909 several local attempts at blrd-bandlng were
either planned or prosecuted One Of these, by
the New Haven Comm Bird club, was reported
70 the annual meeting OF the American Ornitholo-
gists union In 1909 with the result that the Amer
lean BirdBandlng association was organized In
New York City on December 8. of that year. This
association continued to advance the work (dur-
log the last few years under the auspices Of the
Lnnaean Society OF New York; until, 1t outgrew
the resources available.
Because Of the valuable information to be Sc
cured relative to the movements and life histories
Of our migratory birds, especially the game and
iDsectivorOus species the work Of the association
was taken over by the biological survey In 1920.
II Is the plan of the survey to advance this method
OF research along two principal lines: First, by
the banding of hedgings as formerly practiced;
md second. by the systematic trapping and band
ing Of adults.
Through bird-bandIng operations as carried on
In Europe and America, large numbers Of migra-
tory birds have been banded, and data Of consid-
cradle Importance obtained during the last 20
years In the United States these activities have
received added impetus within the last year or
two, through the evolution Of the method of sys-
tematIc trapping. Birds have been marked In va
rious ways, but the most satisfactory Is by means
Of q numbered aluminium band or ring, attached
70 the tarsus. or bare portion Of the leg The ap-
phcatiOn OF a stain or dye to the flight or tail
feathers the attaching Of memoranda written on
parchment, and various other devices have been
tried In the past but are not satisfactory for any
general investigation.
Since It Is the returns from birds banded that
furnish the data desired In this branch OF re-
search. It Is Of prime importance that the methods
employed be improved and that the percentage
81 birds under observation be increased. Nothing
has been found more satisfactory to the accom-
plishment OF this than systemlzed trapping As
the banding Of fedglings has the advantage Of
aordng valuable information on the ages Of birds,
the biological survey wishes to encourage these
activities. but It desires 10 lay special emphasis
N the added value Of the systematic trapping Of
ADULTS Federal permit for this work Is required,
snder the provisions Of the migratory-blrd treaty
let. Application for such permit should be adj
dressed to the bureau Of biological survey. United