38 
THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1922 
BIRD BANDING DEPARTMENT 
Under the Direction of Wm. I. Lyon, Waukegan, III. 
In tlie opening of a Bird Banding Department in this Bulletin let 
us make these few statements about the origin of bird banding, which 
will be followed by a more detailed explanation of the early work in 
later editions. 
Bird banding originated in North America early in the nineteenth 
century when Audubon placed some silver wire rings on the legs of 
young Phoebes in their nests and was rewarded the next season by see- 
ing them in the same district. 
Experimental work began in United States in 1901; then followed the 
work of P. A. Travener, Dr. J. B. Watson, New Haven Bird Club, Dr. Leon 
J. Cole as President of the American Bird Banding Association, and from 
1914 to date the work of S. P. Baldwin in establishing systematic trap- 
ping as a far better means of getting returns. 
In 1920 the United States Bureau of the Biological Survey formally 
took over all the work of recording and issuing all bands to the present 
workers. 
The following are notes from The Bird Banders, from whom we have 
been able to get reports in the Great Lakes Migration District: 
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Station 
We welcome Mr. M. J. Magee as a new member in the Wilson Club 
and in the Bird Banding work and we expect to have some very interest- 
ing reports of Evening Grosbeaks that have been regular visitors with 
him for some time. When he gets this flock all banded we expect he 
will have many future returns. During the summer Mr. Magee was suc- 
cessful in placing bands on a Robin, Long-eared Owl, American Bittern, 
Pine Siskin, Hermit Thrush, Junco, four White-throats and two Song 
Sparrows and nine Purple Finches. Sault Ste. Marie is a choice location 
for migratory birds and we hope for many interesting returns from this 
point. 
Lake Forest, Illinois, Station 
(28 miles north of Chicago.) 
Rev. George Roberts, Jr., is an old member of the American Bird 
Banding Association and placed several bands in 1917, 1919 and 1920. He 
was rewarded by having a Rose-breasted Grosbeak that was banded on 
May 25, 1919, return to be retaken and released on May 2, 1920. He has 
a lot of bands and a trap all set awaiting the spring migration and he 
has our best wishes for success during the coming season. 
Highland Park, Illinois, Station 
(23 miles north of Chicago.) 
Professor Jesse Lowe Smith, one of our most reliable bird workers 
and editor of the Illinois Audubon Bulletin, has two new traps made on 
the pattern of the two most successful traps used at the Waukegan sta- 
tion. We expect many returns from his work, and we also hope he will 
