BEHAVIOR OF TRAPPED AND BANDED BIRDS 
DAYTON STONER 
In the course of certain bird-banding activities which I have 
been carrying on during the past several months, opportunity has 
been afforded for the observation and comparison of the behavior 
of a limited number of birds, both adult and young. And it is 
of some interest to note the different ways in which these “feath- 
ered bipeds” conduct themselves under the unusual conditions 
during and subsequent to the unlooked for disturbances connected 
with the operation of banding. 
As is well known, birds as a group are highly energetic crea- 
tures. Metabolism is rapid, their senses are keenly active at all 
times. That different degrees and different methods of response 
to outside stimuli are offered is, however, to be expected. 
The observations here recorded have been made principally 
on birds that have been taken in government sparrow traps which 
have been employed to secure birds for banding purposes. Two 
of these traps have been in almost continuous service in my 
back yard at my home in Iowa City since about April 1, 1921. 
On May 9, after having one trap in operation for more than 
a month, both robins and bronzed grackles had been seen approach- 
ing the trap and even walking over it but, with the exception 
of two robins, they persistently refused to enter in spite of the 
fact that varick.s supposedly attractive baits had been used. Even 
though the trap was moved from time to time, results were not 
forthcoming. It seemed apparent that the birds which did fre- 
quent it were those nesting or about to nest in the immediate 
vicinity. 
A female robin when taken on April 4, 1921, made desperate 
efforts to escape from the trap and in doing so rubbed the feath- 
ers from about the base of the bill so that this region was bleed- 
ing slightly. When taken in the hand she struggled very little 
though she pecked viciously at a finger presented to her. This 
bird was banded as No. 57932. Apparently the experience of 
being trapped and banded was without terror to this robin for 
she was trapped again on April 20 and May 12 respectively. I 
have never had more than a single “Repeat” on a bronzed grackle. 
