166 Cole, The Tagging of Wild Birds. [j^^f^ 



time nearly ready to fly anyway could not be induced to remain in 

 the nest after they had been removed in the process of banding. 

 In several instances banded young were later found dead near the 

 nest, but it was not definitely ascertained whether this was in any 

 way due to the banding. It is not an uncommon thing to find the 

 young out of a nest even when they have not been banded. This 

 is probably, however, the greatest danger to the birds from our 

 work, and it is one that we must learn to avoid. To this end we 

 have been collecting testimony of the experience of as many of our 

 field workers as we could, and should welcome more. If there are 

 certain species which are especially liable to be disturbed in this way, 

 or if the young are more likely to desert the nest prematurely at any 

 particular age, then we want to find out, and govern our operations 

 accordingly. There is probably little or no danger of desertion 

 of the young by the parents on account of their being disturbed; 

 every one who has made many observations afield, knows that 

 birds who will desert their eggs at the slightest provocation, will 

 stay by their young with the greatest fidelity. 



These are, as I have said, some of the points upon which we need 

 more data, and there are also a number of others. For one thing 

 the bands we are at present using, though answering very well, 

 are not in every respect satisfactory. The aluminum is rather stiff 

 and lacks sufficient pliability, so that several have complained of 

 having bands break when they were attempting to use them. 

 Others have objected that it was very difficult to shape the bands 

 to the legs of small birds and to bend them on; but we have found 

 by personal experience that this could be done very readily with the 

 aid of a small pair of round-nosed pliers, while in addition a pair of 

 strong scissors was needed for snipping off the ends of the bands. 

 We hope to be able to find a kind of aluminum that is more pliable, 

 and will overcome some of the objections, but any one who can 

 invent an improved band will be doing the cause a great service. 

 It is a question, also, as to what extent these bands are practicable 

 for use on sea birds and others that go into salt water, which may so 

 corrode the aluminum as to render the inscription and number 

 illegible. 



