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

DIV "N' P~
know about the migratory birds ana
their travels. the better we can treat them. 1here-
fore, bird-banding serves a useful purpose.
The United States Department of Agriculture
has just published department circular l'O, IN
structions for Bird Banding" by Frederick c. Lin.
coin. assistant biologist Of the bureau OF biology
Cal survey. This circular says, by way of intro
duction. that bird-banding in America dates from
the early years of the Nineteenth century,, when
Audubon placed silver threads around the legs
of a brood Of ~phoebes, and was rewarded the fol-
lowing season by having two of his birds return
to nest i'm the same vicinity.
In Europe bird-banding was attempted as early
as ITO, but it was not until 1899 that it 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 bird-banding were
either planned or prosecuted. One of these, by
the New Haven (COnn) Bird club, was reported
to the annual meeting of the American Ornltholo-
gists' union in 1909, with the result that the Amer
lean Bird-Banding association was organized in
New York City on December 8, of that year. This
association continued to advance the work Our
ing the last few years under the auspices of the
Iinnaean Society Of New York; until it outgrew
the resources available.
Because Of the valuable information to be Sc
tcured relative to the movements and life histories
tOf our migratory birds, especially the game and
linsectivorOus species, the work of the association
twas taken over by the biological survey i'm 1920.
liz is the plan Of the survey to advance this method
,Of research along two principal lines: First, by
lthe banding of fedglings as formerly practiced
land second, by the systematic trapping and band
ing Of adults.s ex4*Er.[4
Through bird-banding operations, as carried on
IN Europe and America. large numbers of migra-
tory birds have been banded, and data of cOnsid-
icrabIe Importance obtained during the last 20
wears. In the United States these activities have
,recei,ed added impetus within the last year or
two. through the evolution OF the method Of sys-
hematic trapping. Birds have been marked in va
,rious ways. blt the most satisfactory is by means
,Of \ numbered aluminium band or ring, attached
70 the tarsus, or bare portion Of the Leg The APP
miicatiOnaDf a stain or dye to the flight or tail
feathers, the attaching OF memoranda written on
Oarchment, and various other devices have been
tried In the past, but are not satisfactory for any
general Investigation. @s
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 aud that the percentage
Of birds under observation be increased. Nothing
has been found more satisfactory to the accom-
attainment Of this than systemized trapping. AS
the banding OF f~edglings has the advantage Of
a~ffording valuable information on the ages OF birds.
4ha :iOlOoical survey wishes to encourage these
7sactivitiss, but 4 desires TO lay special emphasis
- the added value OF the systematic trapping Of
cdr,fs. Kederni permit, for this work is required.
:,nd,,r the pr6visionsi Of the migratory-bird treaty
~. Application for such permit should be ad-
$1,000 10 the bureau OF biological survey, United
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