442 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ditions seem to be favorable and it is believed that a productive sta- 

 tion can be established there. 



No official publications have been issued, but several articles on 

 bird banding in ornithological periodicals have been reprinted in 

 quantities and made available to collaborators through the gener- 

 osity of an ornithologist who is much interested in this project. 

 Addresses on the subject of bird banding have been made by repre- 

 sentatives of the bureau at Camp Bradley, Md. ; in Boston, Mass. ; 

 and in New York City. 



INVESTIGATIONS OF MIGRATORY WILD FOWL. 



Investigations concerning the condition of migratory wild fowl 

 have been carried on, mainly in cooperation with State officials, thus 

 adding materially to our files of information concerning the dis- 

 tribution, migration, and breeding of these important game species, 

 and serving an important purpose in the administration of the 

 migratory-bird treaty act. Birds collected under scientific collecting 

 permits during the calendar year 1921 have also been carded, bring- 

 ing the data regarding this activity up to date. 



It will be recalled that in 1922 concerted efforts were made by 

 certain sportsmen, notably in Missouri, to be allowed a shooting sea- 

 son extending from February 10 to March 10, the contention being 

 made that the birds were not mated during this period. In that year 

 an investigation made by the bureau showed that mallards were 

 paired as early as February 21, while specimens of both sexes taken 

 early in March showed functional activity of the breeding organs. 

 In order to gather additional data an assistant visited some of the 

 more important wild-fowl resorts in Missouri frequented by these 

 birds during the northward migration. The period covered was 

 from February 20 to March 7, 1923, and the data thus obtained 

 in southeastern Missouri concerned mallards, pintails, and hooded 

 mergansers. Anatomical examination of specimens taken February 

 21 to 23 showed that many of the birds were in breeding condition. 

 About 73 per cent of the mallards examined here between February 

 20 and 27 showed decided enlargement of the reproductive organs. 

 Observations made at another locality in Missouri March 1 to 7 dis- 

 closed nearly similar conditions. 



The participation of a representative of the bureau in the session 

 of the American School of Wild Life Protection, held at McGregor, 

 Iowa, in August, 1922, afforded opportunity for the presentation 

 on a broad scale of the methods and policies of the bureau regarding 

 the protection of wild life. Besides the influence exerted directly 

 at these sessions, which were attended by sportsmen and game 

 officials and many other persons representing organizations inter- 

 ested in the conservation of the wild-life resources of the Mississippi 

 Valley, a number of short trips to near-by points were made in the 

 interests of related projects. These included an inspection of a 

 proposed game preserve near Garden City, Kans., and examina- 

 tions of Clear Lake, near Mason City, Iowa, and Rice Lake, near 

 Lake Mills, Iowa, localities formerly inhabited by considerable 

 numbers of breeding wild fowl, and where it is desired to institute 

 more effective protective measures. An examination was made also 

 of the Winneshiek bottoms near Lansing, Iowa, in company with 



