Evening star., 1949-10-27
This and That
By Charles E. TracewsH
SILVER SPRING, Md.

Dear Sir:
your nightly column is always pleasure
to read. not only because 1t caters to our
interest in birds, but your writing style
makes It doubly enjoyable. As matter of
fact, We subscribe to The Star-the wife, be-
cause of the recipe articles, and for your
column.
Both of us would appreciate a word or
two OF advice on an idea we've been toying
with for some time. 1t is this:
"Bluebirds have been nesting for some
years now in a house set up for them about
10 feet from the window. We see the pair
come to look at it in the spring: One couple
makes nest. and rears the young and pass
on
Later. about this time Of year, the
same species return to the nest for, look-in
on their way South.
The questions in our minds are, could
these bluebirds be the same birds that were
rarer here earlier in the year? Is there any
humane way banding these little fellows to
give us the thrill of identifying them?
If so, and assuming the marking is done
just prior to their flying, what consideration
II any should be given to neutralizing human
scent to assure the parents unfailing atten-
ton to the fledglings? Would you suggest
choosing time after roosting for the opera
tion?- VERY respectfully, P. A. McG.'
Bird banding is not to be undertaken
lightly.
In the first place, it requires a permit
from the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, Department of the Interior.
The service has been reluctant to issue
permits for a variety of reasons. The labor
of handling the incoming reports from all
parts of the country made it necessary to
cut down on the number. It was felt that
there already were enough, and in some
cases too many banders.
This is a specialized work, demanding
specially made traps. and very careful
handling.
Properly done, banding has given many
special additions to our knowledge OF birds.
Among other facts, there have been dis
covered how long birds live, whether they
come back to the same place each year, their
migration routes their speed in flying, facts
as to their adult plumage, and many habits.
It may be realized that all this requires
coordination from some central source If it
is to mean anything. It also means that all
who cooperate must adopt the same ways
and the same methods. with the same
terminology used to prevent confusion.
All in all, bird banding is not thing for
small personal finding, no matter how
interesting it might prove. 4
There are other ways of knowing about
ones own personal" birds in the yard. The
best Of these is to try to select some dis
tinguishing mark on the bird or birds one
is interested in.
A little extra observation, as it might be
called, usually made with field glass or
binoculars, will enable one to determine II
the bird that returns is the bird which was
there before.
Wildbirds, when trapped, are really Wild.
Unless one has held healthy cardinal in
the hand one never realizes Just how much
struggle there is in q beautiful songster.
The usual personal acquaintance Of
household with wild bird is with one
which has been injured or a small one which
has fallen from the nest.
: Neither Of these will put up much >of q
fight
But healthy cardinal or bluebird will
struggle nightly, when trapped and held,
and one must know exactly how to hold the
creature, and how much pressure to use in
restraining it.
We believe that this is not at all advisable.
on the part of the home bird lover. Ours is
but to watch and to wonder. II we watch
enough, and wonder enough, we can get all
the birds have to give us, and give them all
that we can them. This two-way mutual
admiration society results in good to the
birds. and much interest to the human
beings inovived. It also. might solve many
little problems. such as. those Of our good
correspondent. II he still wishes to go on
with his project, let him acquire THE
Manual for Bird Banders.p by Lincoln and
Baldwin. miscellaneous publication No. So,
Department Of Agriculture and go on from
there.
But just to love the birds and to know
about them bird banding is neither necessary
nor advisable, IN most cases.