BIRD BANDING, THE TELLTALE OF MIGRATORY FLIGHT 



101 



rhotograpli from U, S. Biological Survey 



these; captured mallards will receivl biological survey bands 



was taken in midwinter, and no mid- 

 winter bird has ever been taken in 

 summer. 



There is good reason to beheve that 

 this shifting of individuals from one part 

 of their range to take the place of birds 

 that have moved farther south in autumn 

 is a characteristic habit of many species. 

 Within a few years the facts will be 

 known in regard to this, both as to game 

 and nongame birds, and this information 

 will be of practical service in helping to 

 solve problems of conservation. 



Trapping is essential to banding 



At the beginning, most of the birds 

 Ijanded in America were nestlings or par- 

 ents taken at the nests. The first trap 

 used was the Government Sparrow trap, 

 devised by the Biological Survey to cap- 

 ture English Sparrows. With the growth 

 of bird banding a great variety of small 

 traps, mainly of wire mesh, has been de- 

 veloped through the ingenuity and experi- 

 ments of those interested in the work. 



Some of these traps are automatic; 

 others are operated with drawstrings by a 

 watcher concealed a short distance away. 



One successful form of wire trap is at- 



tached to a tree trunk. The upper and 

 lower ends form hinged doors, which 

 close when a long cord leading to a near- 

 by place of concealment is pulled. These 

 traps, baited with suet, are successful in 

 capturing Nuthatches, Flickers, and nu- 

 merous kinds of Woodpeckers. 



In addition to the various traps needed 

 for capturing birds of different habits, 

 the matter of bait is important. The food 

 requirements of birds vary greatly, and to 

 take them successfullv one must cater to 

 the individual preferences of the different 

 species, and sometimes to individuals of a 

 species. 



bird banding aids conservation 



Experience in administering the Fed- 

 eral Migratory Bird Treaty Act for the 

 protection of migratory birds has forcibly 

 impressed the writer with the urgent need 

 of more definite information concerning 

 movements of such wild fowl. Especially 

 important are data about breeding places 

 of Ducks, Geese, and other game birds 

 which visit our water areas each autumn 

 and winter. Adverse conditions affecting 

 them on their breeding grounds might 

 seriously endanger the existence of these 



