RETURNS FROM BANDED BIRDS, 1920 TO 1923 3 
REGIONAL BANDING ASSOCIATIONS 
Because of the great difficulty of coordinating the activities of large 
numbers of cooperators in various parts of the United States and 
Canada, the expediency of grouping them into regional associations, 
each with its proper officers, was favorably considered. The plan 
at first contemplated was the allotment of territory along natural 
geographic lines as far as possible, although, unfortunately, it has 
been necessary to make the boundaries conform to political lines, 
because of the State permits that must be obtained. Thesystem has 
been satisfactory, however, and under the guidance of experienced 
ornithologists the development of the local associations has been rapid. 
Northeastern Bird Banding Association.—First of these local asso- 
ciations was the present Northeastern Bird Banding Association, 
originally organized as the New England Bird Banding Association, 
on January 17, 1922, the result of the interest and tireless energy of 
Laurence B. Fletcher, of Boston, Mass., who has since served in the 
capacity of secretary. HE. H. Forbush, State ornithologist of Massa- 
chusetts, was elected the first president. The territory covered 
includes the New England States, the Maritime Provinces of Canada, 
and Quebec. 
Inland Bird Banding Association.—The second regional organiza- 
tion to be launched was the Inland Bird Banding Association, formed 
on October 24, 1922, at the Chicago, Ill., meeting of the American Orni- 
thologists’ Union. S. Prentiss Baldwin, whose work in systematic 
trapping opened a new field of bird banding, has served continuously 
as president, and William I. Lyon, of Waukegan, II]., a pioneer in 
the work, has served as secretary. ‘This association is coordinating 
the work in the territory tributary to the Mississippi River, extend- 
ing from the Allegheny Mountains to the Rocky Mountain States 
and British Columbia. 
Banding Chapter, Cooper Ornithological Club.—The Cooper Orni- 
thological Club next took an active interest in the subject. Because 
of the fact that the existing organization was devoted primarily to 
the study of western birds, it was not considered advisable to promote 
a separate association. A “Banding Chapter of the Cooper Club” 
was accordingly formed, with J. Eugene Law, of Altadena, Calif., as 
chairman. ‘The territory covered by the chapter includes the entire 
Pacific coast area, including Alaska, together with the Rocky Moun- 
tain States. , 
Eastern Bird Banding Association.—With three organizations func- 
tioning, there remained unallotted only the territory on the Atlantic 
coast south of and including New York, and the Province of Ontario. 
It was accordingly considered important to form an association of 
the cooperators in this region. At a special meeting of the Linnean 
Society of New York, held at the American Museum of Natural 
History on April 24, 1923, the subject was fully discussed and Mr. 
Baldwin was authorized and requested to take care of the preliminary 
arrangements. As aresult, the Eastern Bird Banding Association has 
been organized, with Dr. Arthur A. Allen, of Cornell University, 
Ithaca, N. Y., as president, Mrs. J. E. Webster, of East Orange, 
N. J., as secretary, and Rudyerd Boulton, of the University of 
Pittsburgh, as executive secretary. 
