The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1921-08-06

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 eA-
pected through reports Of retrapping birds tha'
were banded at the original and other STATIONS
Data thus afforded are already indicating the Ok.
act line Of migration OF individual birds the speed
OF travel. and innumerable items OF interest," m"ny
OF which have direct bearing upon the STUDY :"
life histories lively interest attaches 10 ing
work In that each operator Of a station 10 IN a
continual state Of anticipation through the KNOWN
edge that birds banded at other stations may AZ
any time be registered at his own traps.
The bands issued by the biological survey are o.
two types. Suffering band isles to O. inclusivel
for all small birds. including those OF the size OF
crows, small owls, and herons; and fat-str'p
bnnd 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 market) may also give salts
faction but there Is a distinct advantage in hav-
ing a standard type that birds may come to rec
ognize as a 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 con-
struct the government sparrow trap In a few
hours and ut nominal cost
Problems that can be solved by bird banding In
clude these.
How fast do the individuals Of any species trav-
81 on their periodic migrntions; that is, how many
miles per day will any one bird average during
these Journeys and what is the total time con-
sumed in trip?
Does any one flock continue In the van or Is the
ADVANCE mnde by successive focks passing
the other in alternate periods Of rest and fightf
Do individuals Of any species always follow the
both .vNA
fall flights?
Do migrating Dirds make uhe sane s'op-oSei'
every year to feed?
How long do birds remain IN one locality during
the migration the breeding. or the winter seasonsf
what Is the relation between the breeding and
the wintering grounds Of individuals; that IS, 40
those birds that breed farthest north winter far
thest south. thus jumping over those that occupy
tho intermediate zone or do they merely replace
tho latter individuals as winter residents7
DO birds adopt the same nesting area. nest site.
ord winter quarters during successive seasons3
FOR how many broods will one pair remain
mated. and which bird, II not both, Is attracted
next year to the old nesting site7
To what extent do males OF species assist 10
incubation and brooding3
How far from their nests do birds forage FOR
,ood and inter the young have left the nest. Will
the perent birds bring them to the feeding ana
trapping stationg
To what region do the b'rds 60 paltlcu'ar'y
tho vounr. that do not return to the vicinity o.
their original nests?
How long do birds liver
ror tho solution of these and related problems,
q - imnortant that the traps always be set on the
o~,gpal site for birds already have returned to
Tho same traps through four or five consecutive
seasons. Many returns Will, In the course OF
time. afford answers to the important proo'eins
here presented. 80.
Tn handling small birds the utmost care must
=. axerc,sed II is OF vital Importance that they
no On handled that they may be liberated IN per-
-. .ora,t,on Almost without exception they are
h,~h,v nervous. and quick pressure BY the OPP
orator following some spasmodic struggle OF tne
bird may kill 1t instantly or so seriously
:, ,roke its destruction necessary Further'