The northwestern bulletin-appeal., 1925-01-10
SURVEY Is MADE
OF BIRD BANDING
Terms Migrate From Kenne-
bee to the Niger.

tern Dy the DfOiOgfcai survey OF the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture, which Is now receiving many In
teresting returns from the bird-band-
Ing work at one Of Its bird colonies In
Lake Michigan last year. Among the
other interesting reports growing out
OF this work are those pertaining to
three Caspian terms. which were To-
Gated In Colombia, South America.
These were found Just at the time
when bird banding was being done at
the original colony In Michigan this
year. thereby proving that the young
birds do not breed in their first year.
According to the agricultural expert
menters two Caspian terms were re-
ported found In Nova Scotia and many
others were discovered along the
routes to the latter country and South
America. Those found en- route, the
investigators say. show what course Is
followed by the migrating birds be-
tween their summer and winter homes.
With the growing interest in the
procedure the department has only re-
Gently published a list of Instructions
concerning the practical significance
of bird banding, as well as some of Its
history. This form Of Identification In
America dates from the time OF Audu-
bon. who about 1903 placed silver
threads around the legs of a brood Of
phoebes and was rewarded the follow
ing season by having two of his
marked birds return to nest In the
same vicinity. Although bird ringing"
was attempted in Europe as early as
ITO 1t was almost 200 years later, in
1899, that systematic work was under
taken.
Started In 1901.
The earlier investigators, according
birds by dyeing or staining the flight
or tail feathers, attaching memoranda
written on parchment, or mutilating
feathers. feet or bill. In this country
active experimental work was begun
in 1901, when aluminium bands were
attached to the legs of the birds. The
results were so satisfactory and stim-
ulated so much interest that eight
years later the American Bird Band
ing association was organized in New
York city. Subsequent study has re-
vealed that two principal lines Of re-
search must be given special attention.
First Of these is the banding of fledg-
lings and the second, the systematic
trapping and banding Of adults. The
latter is the more significant because
the older birds give the most informa-
tion on bird habits.
Trapping is accomplished by various
snares, one Of the popular ones being
the Government" sparrow trap, fun
nel-shaped device Of wire and hard
ware cloth easily made even by the
novice and very effective. Others
which the department recommends are
the well-known drop trap. the door of
which is suspended until the unwary
bird makes for the bait, when 1t drops
down and shuts In the victim.
The department, to be able to study
even more closely than heretofore the
life histories Of birds, urgently re-
quests the cooperation of naturalists
whose casual discoveries of wayfaring
band-bearing birds might be well
worth reporting. In this way the gov
ernmental investigators expect to solve
the many problems which previously
have baffled the ornithologist. Among
these are the speed with which indi-
viduals of any species may travel on
their periodic migrations, the possible
vanguard formed by one flock for 9TH
ers and the advance made by success
sive fiocks passing one over the other
In alternate periods Of rest and flight.
Questions to BE Answered.
Other questions which can be an
swered by bird-banding operations
are:
Do individuals Of any species al
ways follow the same route, and Is the
route the same for both spring and
fall flights?
Do migrating birds make the same
stop-over every year to feed?
How long do birds remain In one 10
cality during the migration, the breed
ing or the winter season.
What Is the relation between the
breeding and the wintering grounds Of
individuals; that Is, do those birds
that breed farthest north winter
farthest south. thus jumping over
those that occupy the intermediate
zone. or do they merely replace the
latter individuals as winter residents?
To what region do the birds 60, par
ticulariy the young, that do not return
to the vicinity Of their original nests?
Do birds adopt the same nesting
area. nest site and winter quarters In
successive seasons?
For how many broods will one pair
remain mated and which bird, II not
both, Is attracted next year to the old
nesting sitter
To what extent do males of a spe-
cies 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 trap
ping station?
Fifty Aerial Torpedoes