

'J IS Cleaves, American Bird Banding Association. I April 



WHAT THE AMERICAN BIRD BANDING ASSOCIATION 

 HAS ACCOMPLISHED DURING 1912. 1 



BY HOWARD II. CLEAVES. 2 



Since it is obvious that this report will fall into the hands of 

 many who arc not cognizant of the facts relating to the origin, 

 growth and present status of the bird handing' movement in America 

 ii might not be amiss to devote a brief space at the outset to a 

 review of that phase of the subject. The mystery of bird migra- 

 tion lias tickled and agitated the lay mind and engaged the atten- 

 tion of the ornithologist for we know not how long, and although 

 much has been ascertained by field observers with regard to dates 

 o^ arrival and departure at given points of the majority of migra- 

 tory species, practically nothing is known of the movements of 

 individual birds. Even Audubon became interested in this prob- 

 lem, for we read that he placed silver wire rings about the tarsi 

 of a brood of young Phoebes and was rewarded the following year 

 by discovering two of these birds nesting in the same vicinity. 

 Whether through reading of this interesting incident, or hearing 

 of the splendid efforts put forth by certain Europeans who began 

 handing birds as early as 1899, or by reason of a spontaneous desire 

 to investigate, it would he difficult to tell, but the fact remains 

 that not later than \9(Y2 individual experimenters in this country 

 engaged themselves in earnest and comparatively extensive efforts 

 to cast light on the wanderings of birds by the use of inscribed 

 metal hands or rings. 



Not until L908, however, did anything approaching a concerted 

 bird handing movement develop. 1 hiring that year certain mem- 

 bers of the New Haven (Conn A Bird Club did a small amount of 

 handing, but, realizing how unavailing were the efforts of so few. 

 decided to carry the cause before the Congress of the American 

 Ornithologists' Union at Cambridge, Mass., in November. There 



1 I'm- previous reports of bird banding work in America see 'The Auk,' Vol. 

 \\\i No. l». pp. 137-143, April, 1909, and '. The Auk,' Vol. XXVII, No. 2, 

 April, mm. 



'■ Vddress communications bo Howard H. Cleaves, Sec'j Treas., Public 

 Museum, Now Brighton, n. "> . 



