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THE WILSON BULLETIN— September, 1922 
BIRD-BANDING ON BONAVENTURE ISLAND 
As a member of an expedition from the Milwaukee Public Museum 
the writer spent the month of July, 1922, on Bonaventure Island, one of 
the Canadian Government’s great Bird Sanctuaries, in the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence. Very little time was available for bird banding, but a short 
account of what was done and of the possibilities of this work here may 
prove of interest. 
Gannets and Murres nest by the thousands on the great cliffs of this 
island, on ledges that may be easily reached by the use of ropes from 
above. Razorbill Auks, Puffins, Black Guillemots, Herring Gulls and 
Kittiwakes also occur in large numbers as well. 
The writer placed over two hundred bands on young Gannets, only 
those with the tarsus as large or larger than in the adult being banded. 
The large young, though still in the nest and covered with down, have 
large fleshy legs, considerably larger than their parents. In such cases 
the bands should fit snugly so that they will not be too loose when the 
bird becomes adult. 
The following methods were found the quickest and most satisfactory. 
Fifty of the large size Flat-strip bands were cut to approximately the 
proper length and the numbers entered in a small note-book. Then they 
were shaped around the index finger and opened to allow them to slip 
on readily. Filling convenient pockets with the prepared bands and 
equipped with sharp-nosed pliers and small cutters we are ready to start 
work. 
It may be stated right here that great care and proper judgment 
must be used to prevent the young Gannets falling off the ledges. Choos- 
ing ledges of medium width and working along them from the outside 
rather than along the rock, moving deliberately and spending no more 
time in one spot than is absolutely necessary to properly adjust the band, 
scores may be banded without a single one coming to grief. 
Most of the young stick to the nest, prepared for battle and their 
sharp, powerful beaks inflict many scratches and wounds on the hands. 
Some might prefer to use gloves, but the bands can be fitted faster and 
more accurately with the bare hands. Making a feint with the foot to 
attract the victim’s attention he is quickly grasped by the back of the 
head and thrust between the legs, head to the rear. The band is now 
quickly adjusted and the bird released almost before he has had time to 
realize what has happened. True, he has pecked desperately at the seat 
of the bander’s trousers, and perhaps coughed up a mackerel or two 
meanwhile, but no damage is done. The bander should possess a strong 
stomach and when the ledges are slippery after a rain, be dressed in 
oil-skins from head to foot. After the day’s work is done the accumu- 
lation of red clay, guano, and half digested fish can be washed off. Oc- 
casionally, as one works along the ledge, an adult refuses to desert her 
offspring, when she also may be put through the mill, care being used to 
avoid her dangerous bill. 
Adult Murres and Gannets can be netted easily with an ordinary 
long-handled net and in this way the most valuable work could be done. 
