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

States Department of Agriculture, Washington,
ID. G.
With the establishment of a well-connected chain
Of trapping stations throughout the United States
and Canada, regular returns" are confidently ex-
pected through reports of retrapping birds that
were banded at the original and other stations.
Data thus afforded are already indicating the ex-
act line of migration Of individual birds, the speed
OF travel, and innumerable items OF interest, many
Of which have a direct bearing upon the study or
lie histories. A lively interest attaches TO the
work in that each operator of a station is in a
continual state Of anticipation through the knowi-
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 or
two types, a split-ring band (siZes ] to g, incluSive)
for all small birds, including those of the size OF
crows, small owls, and herons; and a 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 marke) may also give salts
faction, but there is a distinct advantage in hav-
ing n standard type that birds may come to rec
osnize as q source of food, and for this reason 1t
is 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 con-
struct the government" sparrow trap In a 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-
ei 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 con-
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
copno mt and iS it identical for hoth cnripu opd
fall flights? j.
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, or 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, or 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 one 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 brOOding?
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?
the young. { I. do not return to the vicinity Of
their original nests?
How long do birds live?
For the solution of these and related problems,
1t 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. 1t is Of vital Importance that they
be 40 handled that they may be liberated in per-
feet condition. Almost without exception they are
highly nervous. and a quick pressure by the OPP
orator following some s%pasmOdic struggle Of the
bird may kin it instantly or SO seriously injure 1t
as to make It's destruction necessary. Further