Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-06
OLOGIST GOES TO LOUISIANA
TO STUDY LIFE OF BLUE GOOSE
Bands Will Be Used in OBJ
serving Habits of Little
Known Fowl.
Game Birds Believed to Make
Nonstop Flights South
From Islands.
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.

Prepared to band the blue goose
to learn more of this little known spe-
cies of North American water fowl
Frederick C. Lincoln, associate biolo-
gist, division of biological investiga-
lions, of the Biological Survey, is leav-
ing today for the Paul j. Rainey Wild
Life Refuge at Abbeville, La. Mr.. Lin
the blue goose fields" in Louisiana
last January and February. but it was
too late in the season to trap tht
fowls for subsequent banding. A tele-
gram received by Mr.. Lincoln within
the past few days stated that at least
10000 of the geese had arrived in tht
Louisiana territory.
The blue goose is one Of the least
known of the American water fowl and
it was not until the Summer of 1925
that the breeding grounds of the species
was discovered by a biologist of the
Canadian department of the interior or
the western side of the Baffin Islands
north of Labrador. The methods en-
ployed by the Canadian, j. Dewey Soper
neceSSitated daring and hardShipS as tC
reach the grounds in time to observe
the birds during the nesting period, he
had to cross over the ice fields to the
Bafin Islands before the Spring thaws
Goes to Nesting Place.
Accompanied by two Esquimo in dog
sleds, carrying supplies for several
months and a boat by which to return
Soper arrived at the Baffin Islands in
the late Winter of last year. BY doing
so, he discovered the nesting place of
the Blue Geese for the first time known
to science. After concluding his in
vestigations, it took Soper 28 days to
travel from the Baffln Islands coast to
his supply base. Due to melting ice, he
was only able to cover 40 miles a day
The Investigations of the Canadian
biologist contributed the first definite
knowledge of the habits of this species
OF water fowl. Mr.. Lincoln hopes to
add further knowledge of the fowl to
science by his visit to Louisiana. Def
mite plans for the banding of the birds
have not as yet been concluded.
Il will have to experiment" said Mr.
Lincoln, but at present I am contem-
plating trapping the birds at night by
means of torch lights, driving them into
large nets"
small metal bands will be placed on the
birds leg. These bands bear a serial
number and the inscription notify
Biological Survey, Washington, d. c.
Banding New Method.
The banding of birds is a compare
lively recent method of investigating
bird life and habits, having been insti-
tuted in this country in 1920. but not
actually adopted by the Biological Sur
yey until about six years ago. Since
that time valuable knowledge has been
obtained by the banding methods. Birds
found in the waters of Louisiana and
Texas at one season of the year, are
often found at other times almost
as far north as the Attic Circle. Re-
ports of findings often come from illit-
crate ESkimoS and Indians, who, seeing
the band. carry it and the bird to the
nearest mission station, the Northwest
ern Mounted Police or the trading sta
tons of the Hudson Bay Co., who send
the report to Washington.
1t is believed by scientific authorities
that the blue goose makes a nonstop
flight from James Bay to Louisiana. as
little is seen of the fowl after it leaves
James Bay In large flocks until it ar
riveS in Louisiana. The fact that the
bird is not seer in other parts of
the country leads scientists to believe
its journey from the breeding grounds
in the North to the Winter resorts
Of the South is nonstop flight.
Mr.. Lincoln describes the fowl as
slightly smaller than the Canada
goose" a blue-Slate color, with white
head. and very good eating, although
not considered as good as the Canada
goose. 1t offers excellent hunting for
Louisiana sportsmen, the open season
extending from the middle of Noveni-
Der until January
The work which is being undertaken
by Mr.. Lincoln for the Biological Sur
vey is in cooperation with the Amerl-
can Wild Fowlers, an organization of
sportsmen.