keeps a record of the numbers on the 

 bands it sends each bird bander. 

 When a band is put on a bird's leg, 

 the bander records the number on a 

 form he receives from the Bird Band- 

 ing Office. He also records the 

 species, age, and sex of the bird and 

 the place and date of banding. Later 

 the bander returns the completed 

 form to the Bird Banding Office. 



Fifteen different sizes of aluminum 

 bands are used in banding birds. Very 

 small bands are needed for tiny birds 

 such as the warblers, vireos, kinglets, 

 and hummingbirds. Large bands are 

 used on swans, geese, or eagles. 

 Besides the serial number, each band 

 bears the name and address of the 

 Fish and Wildlife Service in Wash- 

 ington. Thus the finder of a band 

 knows where to send it and the Bird 

 Banding Office has a number to use in 

 locating all the banding information 

 on a particular bird. 



I Atlantic GOioefi ftov« a«f o/«o jWNSf 



I fKlfIC eOLDlN H.OVIH at£lDIH6 KAN6E 

 I WINTEK. «ANfi£S 



Who Can Band Birds 



Anyone who is at least 18 years old 

 and knows how to identify all the 

 comnnon birds in their different 

 seasonal plumages may apply for a 

 banding permit from the Fish and 

 Wildlife Service. The applicant nnust 

 furnish the names of three well-known 

 bird banders, bird students, or 

 naturalists who can vouch for his 

 fitness as a bird bander. Only those 

 persons who are well qualified will 

 be issued banding permits. 



How We Can All Help 



Not everyone can or wants to band 

 birds. But we can all help the work of 

 bird banding by sending in bands we 

 find. In fact, this important study of 

 American birds would fail were it not 

 for the many people who send in bands 

 they find. Banding is only one phase 

 of the work- -the bands must be found 

 and returned. 



Where are we most likely to find 

 bands? Hunters should always look 

 at the legs of ducks, geese, wood- 

 cock, and other game birds they shoot. 

 Many of these birds carry bands. Dead 

 birds along our highways and birds 



From banding we learned the Atlantic Golden Plover 

 returns north over a different route than the one it 

 follows south to its wintering grounds. 



Keeping accurate records is 

 every bander's work. 



an Important part of 



