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

States department of Agriculture, Nashington'
D. c.
With the establishment of d well-connected cha'h
of trapping stations throughout the United States
nnd Canada. regular returns are confidently eA-
peced through reports of retrapping birds tha'
We're banded at the original and other s'at'ohN.
Data thus afforded are already indicating the eA
act line of migration of individual birds. the spec"
OF travel. and innumerabe items of interest many
of which have direct bearing upon the STUDY oi
life histories. A lively interest attaches TO the
work in that each operator Of station IS III
continual state of anticipation through the know'
edge that birds banded at other stations may 'u
any time he registered Mt his own traps
The bands issued by the biological survey are OF
two types, splitring band (szes to g. inclusive,
for all small birds. including those of the size OF
crows, small owls. and herons: and hat-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 he pur-
chased in the open market) may also give salts
faction but there is a distinct advantage In hav-
ing standard type that birds may come to rec
ognze a source of food. and for this reason 1t
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 con-
struct the government" sparrow trap in few
hours and at n nominal cost.
Problems that can be solved by bird banding in
clude these:
ell on their periodic mgrations; that is how many
miles per day will any one bird average during
these journeys and what is the total time
sumed in trip?
Does any flock continue in the Is the
advance made by successive hocks 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 10 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
tle 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 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 boh is attracted
next year to the old nesting site?
To what extent do males of 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 go. 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 tha
original site. for birds already have returned IN
the same traps through four five consecutive
seasons. Many "returns" will, in the course ~
time afford answers to the important problan,s
here presented.
In handling small birds the utmost care mnst
be exercised 1t Is of vital Importance that tbav
be so handled that they may be liberated in nor
feet condition. Almost without exception thew ar.
merry nd n
orator following some spasmodic struggle of the
bird may kill 1t instantly seriously iniure il
to make its destruction necessary Furthar