Monthly Bulletin 5 



main normal songs of some of our common birds which for one reason 

 or another seem to have escaped mention in most of the popular hand- 

 books. From the article one learns what a fascinating side of bird study 

 this is and how wonderfully varied and interesting these songs are. This 

 article should be intereslhig to the casual reader as well as the bird 

 student. It is to be found in Volume 22, pages 235-242, 1922. It can 

 be found at the office of the Audubon Society, 



BIRD BANDING 



Since ""Bird Banding" has taken a recognized place in the study of 

 birds, many people are asking what can be learned through this medium. 



A table is given below showing the record of a song sparrow trapped 

 and banded at Cohasset, Mass., by Mr. L. B. Fletcher. The record of 

 this bird perhaps does not answer the questions but rather asks more. 

 At the same time, such records as these will help solve the number of 

 questions after sufficient people are banding. 



No. 11006, Song Sparrow, Banded May 

 Repeats 1921 



Return 1922 

 Repeats 1922 



What became of No. 11006 after June 16, 1921, and where did he go 

 on May 16, 1922, after he had returned three days previously? What 

 wasi he doing in the period from May 16 to July 5? At present these 

 questions are puzzling, but with persistent work, such problems will 

 ultimately be solved. 



Why did the sparrow leave a good feeding-place on May 16? Why 

 was it absent for nearly two months? Where was it during its absence 

 and why did it return on July 5? 



On June 17th Messrs. Floyd, MacKaye and Fletcher banded 104 black- 

 crowned night herons at West Barnstable. These were all young birds 

 just ready to leave the nest. On Aug. 4th, one of them was found dead 

 on the beach at Kennebunkport, Maine, showing that after it had left 

 the nest t wandered north over a hundred miles. On Aug. 29th, one of 

 the banded birds was found dead at Fryeburg, Maine, having been killed 

 by running into telegraph-wires, and on Sept. 4th, a third was picked up 

 on the beach at Beach Bluff, Mass. Why did these birds wander north 

 instead of south, and how much farther would they have wandered if 

 they had not been killed? 



The Biological Survey has notified the Secretary of the New England 

 Bird Banding Association that a bountiful supply of bands are now being 

 manufactured and all requests for the same will be filled promptly within 

 a few days. Charles B. Floyd 



