BIRD BANDING AND INCIDENTAL STUDIES 
DAYTON STONER 
While the phenomena connected with bird migration have been 
studied for more than two thousand years much is yet to be 
learned of this most interesting and still more or less obscure 
characteristic of our “feathered bipeds.” In attempting to throw 
some light upon their movements new methods have been de- 
vised and, in a degree, perfected. Until recently it has been 
the aim of ornithologists to study the migratory habits of species 
or even of larger zoological groups; but of late an effort has 
been made to study individuals of a species by marking the birds 
in some permanent manner so that they may be subsequently 
observed and their movements definitely recorded. 
The latter method has consisted, for the most part, in at- 
taching to birds either in the immature or adult stage a small, 
inscribed metal band the data on which are recorded in a central 
bureau or organization. Although bird banding itself is not a 
new thing, proper direction and control of these activities have 
been lacking. However, since May, 1920, the United States Bio- 
logical Survey has assumed authority over the work and with 
this energetic and efficient branch of the Government service at 
the helm to rejuvenate the efforts of individuals and various co- 
operative agencies, a more definite and systematic plan of en- 
deavor should produce valuable results. Numerous difficulties 
have beset the Survey in initiating this project, but it has succeed- 
ed in interesting up to this time approximately one hundred per- 
sons to whom have been issued about five thousand bands. 
In securing birds for banding two methods have been followed, 
both of which have proved successful. One method consists in 
banding nestling birds just before they are able to fly, while in 
the second method dependence is placed upon a scheme of sys- 
tematic trapping for securing adult birds. Either method may 
be indulged in with satisfactory results although when once 
started under favorable conditions many more birds may be se- 
cured in the same length of time by trapping than by seeking 
out nests containing young birds. It is absolutely essential to 
the success of the project that large numbers of birds be banded 
