Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-08-04

States Department of Agriculture, Washington
D, G.
With the establishment of a well-connected chain
of trapping stations throughout the United States
and Canada, regular returns" are confidently eH-
pected through reports of retrapping birds thar
were banded at the original and other stations
Data thus afforded are already indicating the eX-
act line of migration of individual birds, the speeu
of travel, and innumerabe items of interest, many
of which have direct bearing upon the study Oh
life histories. A lively interest attachesYto the
work in that each operator of station is IN a
continual state of anticipation through the knowl-
edge that birds banded at other stations may at
any time be registered at his own traps.
The bands issued by the biological survey are of
two types Spit-ring band Isles to g. inclusive)
for all small BIRDS including those of the size of
crows, small owls, and herons; and fat-strip
band that is 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 be pur-
chased in the open marlet) may also give salts
faction, but there is distinct advantage in hav-
ing standard type that birds may come to rec
ognize source of food, and for this reason it
is 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
struct the government sparrow trap in few
hours and at a nominal cost.
Problems that can be solved by bird banding in
clude these:
How fast do the individuals of any species trav-
ell 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
sumed in a trip?
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 flight?
Do individuals of any species always follow the
same route, and is it identical for both spring and
fall flights?
Do migrating birds make the same stOp-overs
every year to feed?
How long do birds remain in one locality during
the migration, the breeding, the winter seasons?
What is the relation between the breeding and
the wintering grounds of individuals; that is do
those birds that breed farthest north winter far
thest SOUTH thus jumping over those that occupy
the intermediate zone, do they merely replace
the latter individuals as winter residents?
Do birds adopt the same nesting area, nest site,
and winter quarters during successive seasons?
For how many broods will pair remain
mated, and which bird, If not both, Is attracted
next year to the old nesting site?
To what extent do males of a species assist in
incubation and brOodng?
How far from their nests do birds forage for
food and after the young have left the nest, will
the parent birds bring them to the feeding and
trapping station?
To what region do the birds CO. particularly
the young that do not return to the vicinity of
their original nests?
How long do birds live?
For the solution of these and related problems
it is important that the traps always be set on the
original site, for birds already have returned to
the same traps through four or five consecutive
seasons. Many returns" will, in the course of
time, afford answers to the important problems
here presented.
In handling small birds the utmost care must
be exercised. It is of vital Importance that they
be so handled that they may be liberated in per-
feet condition. Almost without exception they are
highly nervous, and a quick pressure by the op-
orator following spasmodc struggle of the
bird may kill it instantly or so seriously injure it
as to make its destruction necessary. Further