BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 351 



series. The third report on bird counts in the United States, which 

 covers the years 1916 to 1920, inchisive, Avas prepared for publication. 



BIRD BANDING. 



The bird banding work has made substantial progress during the 

 period covered by this report. At the close of the year the coopera- 

 tors enlisted in this project numbered 490, and the number is being 

 continually augmented as the interest increases. Cooperation is be- 

 ing extended b}' various State organizations, including game com- 

 missions, colleges, and universities. 



Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of the past year has been 

 the great interest developed in the New England States, especially 

 in Massachusetts, which resulted in the formation in January of 

 the New England Bird Banding Association, organized for the pur- 

 pose of increasing interest in bird banding and furthering the 

 cooperation of individuals and organizations with the Biological 

 Survey. A representative of the bureau was present at the organi- 

 zation meeting to arrange for the proper coordination of the activi- 

 ties of the new organization with the work of the bureau. 



The number of birds banded under the direction of the bureau dur- 

 ing the year Avas about 6,000, and much valuable information has 

 been obtained from " return " and " repeat " records, numbering 

 about 2,500. It is anticipated that these numbers will be greatly in- 

 creased as the work develops. The work done during the year in- 

 cluded the systematic trapping and banding of land birds, the band- 

 ing of fledglings, and particularly the banding of waterfowl for 

 the purpose of obtaining information for use in the administration 

 of the migratory bird treaty act. Three field trips were made in 

 the interest of bird banding work. The first, to North Dakota, in 

 July and August, was made in cooperation with a collaborator of the 

 bureau, and during its continuance experiment's were carried on 

 at several points in an endeavor to devise proper methods to be 

 employed in banding waterfowl during the nesting season. The 

 second trip, in January and February, was for the purpose of band- 

 ing waterfoAvl near the Mississippi Eiver in Iowa, where large 

 numbers of ducks had congregated and remained during the winter: 

 some work was also carried on in Missouri for the same purpose 

 and for obtaining motion pictures of trapping and banding oper- 

 ations. The third trip, in February and March, was made to band 

 waterfowl along the Illinois River near Browning, 111., chiefly on 

 the grounds of the Sanganois Club, in cooperation with the owners 

 of this hunting preserve. During these trips important results 

 were obtained in the banding of waterfowl, and the banding of 

 these birds will be continued during the coming year. A few articles 

 relating to bird-banding work were published through outside 

 ornithological mediums, and two mimeographed circulars under the 

 title " Bird banding notes " were issued to collaborators for the 

 purpose of furnishing them information needed in carrying on 

 the work. 



INVESTIGATIONS OF MIGRATORY WILD FOWL. 



Investigations of migratory wild fowl have been continued in 

 cooperation with State game officials. Considerable information on 

 the breeding and mating of ducks and geese in the United States and 



