Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-11
This and That
By Charles E. Traceuell
CONNECTICUT AVE.

Dear Sir:
"A beautifully groomed dove, wearing
band on its leg, is frequenting our
bird cafeteria on the kitchen window
sill And so, what?
Not understanding Just how the
band system works, I feel altogether
confident, Of course, that you have the
answer, and am addressing you accord
lngly, IN my capacity as an appreciative
follower of your popular and well-in
formed column.
very sincerely yours, F. B. w"
Most friends of birds get very excited
when they see an aluminium band on
bird, thinking there is something they
should do about it.
There is nothing.
The band means something ONLY to
those persons who are engaged In the
sport of bird banding.
The Audubon Guide to Attracting
Birds puts the matter thus:
Since 1920 the amateur co-operators
OF the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service have placed well over 5000 900
aluminium bands on the legs of North
American birds. Hundreds of little
known facts about bird lives are deter
NiAAASN oeASiioAiiSdliy llllOuSH lIllS me-
dunn: Such things as how long birds
i've, whether they come back to the
same place each year; where thev mi
CRATE; how rapidly they travel: what
paths they take: how long it takes to
acquire adult plumage; whether they
are polygamous or homogeneous, and
lnnumerable other questions
Inc birds are usually caught in espe-
clally made traps, banded and then re-
leased. Care in handling the birds to
avoid injury is very important The
Manual for Bird Banders,' by Lincoln
and Baldwin, is the standard publica-
ton describing equipment and meth
DDS. To engage in this work it is neces-
sary to have a bird-bander's permit
from the United States Fish and Wild
life Service, Department of the In
terror, Washington, D. c. At this time
there are so many people throughout
the country taking part in banding
that the clerical labor entailed by the
incoming reports is too great for the
limited office force to handle adequate
ly. For this reason the service is very
RELUCTANT to issue new permits unless
the co-operator lives in an area far
from other banders or is engaged in
some special research activity. There
are already too many banders merely
putting bands on the legs of more and
more birds without working on any par
tlcular species or problem.
Photography and banding offer MANY
exciting moments and make their dew
oteeS more observant of the WAYS of
birds than almost any other activity"
\ +
There is chance that our observers
dove" may be special sort of pigeon
and is registered with one of the pigeon
fanciers' organizations.
In this case it would be necessary tn
get hold of the bird and ascertain the
markings on the band and in this wav
finally get in touch with the organiza-
ton, which will be located in some other
city. BY the time they go through the
motions. the bird probably will be gone
again. 1t Is all very confusing, and not
worth while to the person simply in
terested in watching birds.
For the person interested in reading
about bird-banding adventures, a verv
good book Is Wings at My Window -
by Ada Chaplain Govan, issued bv Mac
milan in 1910.
Banded pigeons are mostly racing
birds, and if fed and given water, usu-
ally find their way home in time.
Most of us who are interested in
birds simply for the beauty and interest
inherent in them and who realize their
Importance to agriculture and gardens
will be satisfied to let others fool with
the bands. Not every one is capable of
handling birds properly, nor OF the me-
ticulous studies involved Most, per-
haps, will have no real interest in this
sort OF thing. 1t is, for our purposes,
not necessary, thank Heaven. We would
q leave pick up wildcat % . strug-
Cling grackls.