The Idaho recorder., 1921-08-19

States Department OF Agriculture, Washington,
ID. G.
win the establishment of n well connected chain
OF trapping stations throughout the United States
ana Canada, regular returns" are confidently ex-
pected through reports OF retrappng birds that
We're banded at the original and other stations.
Data thus afforded are already indicating the
net line OF migration OF Individual birds the speed
OF travel. and nnumerahle items of interest many
or which have a direct bearing upon the study Of
iife histories. lively interest attaches to the
work III that each operator OF a station Is In
continual state Of anticipation through the know-
edge mat birds banded at other stations may at
any timo be registered nj his own traps.
The bands issued by the biological survey nre OF
Two types splt-rlng hand (sizes to O. inciusve)
Tor all small birds. including those of the size OF
crows. small owls, and herons; and n fatstrp
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 tthere are several that may be pur-
chased In the open market) may also give salts
faction. but there Is distinct advantage In hav
Ing standard type that birds may come to rec
ognixe ms source OF food, and for this reason 1t
Is recommended that this trap be used.
The circular contains specifications sufficient 10
enable nnysne with moderate skill In the use OF
tools ttin ships. pliers. hle, and hammer) to con-
struct the government sparrow trap In a few
hours and at a nominal cost.
Problems that can he solved by bird banding In.
clude these.
How fast do the individuals Of any species trav
el on their periodic mlgrations: that is, how many
miles per day will any bird average during
these Journeys and what Is the total time CON
sumed In a trip?
Does any one foek continue In the van or Is the
advance made by successive hocks passing one over
the other In alternate periods OF and f,ightf
DO individuals of any species always fellow the
same route. and Is II Identical for both spring and
fall nlghtsf
DO migrating birds make the same stop-oyers
every year To feeds
How long do birds remain In one locality during
the migration the breeding or the winter seasonsf
What II 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 xone or do they merely replace
the latter individuals as winter residents1
DO birds adopt the same nesting area nest Site
aud winter quarters during successive seasonsr
For how many broods win one pair remain
mated. and which bird. II not hoth IL attracted
next year to the old nesting siter
To what extent do males OF species assist In
incubation and broodingf
How far from their nests do birds forage for
food. and after the young have left the nest win
the parent birds bring them to the feeding and
trapping stationf
To what region do the birds 20. particularly
the young. that do return 10 the vicinity of
their original nests1
How ieng do hrds itsef
For the solution OF these and related problems
II Is important that the traps always he set on the
original Site for birds already have returned TO
the same traps through four or fiye eonsecu,lve
seasons. Many returns" will. In tho course of
time anotd answers to the important problems
here presented.
In handling small birds the utmost care must
hc exercised II Is Of vital Importance that the,
he so handled that they may be- liberated in per.
feet condition. Almost without exception they nra
highly nervous. and quick pressure by the on
orator following some spasmodc struggle OF the
bird may XIII II Instantly seriously injure II
as TO make It's destruction necessary Further.