Band Identifies Gulls on Wing

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 184, 6 August 1938, Page 11

Band Identifies Gulls on Wing

OTTAWA —Tlie well-dressed herrinj gull will flash coloured leg bands ii Canada this year. Gulls have hitherto been moderate |creatures, their aluminum bands suit ably matching their gray coats. Bu this year the Department of Mines am Resources announces in a recent bulletii that North-American bird banders hav< adopted a new style. The ‘ ‘ new spring outfit 1 ’ will enable observers to tell tin colony from which a gull comes withou capturing or molesting it. Bird banding in North America has in the last 20 years, grown from a liobty of naturalists to a regular Governmen function. Wild birds in Canada are con sidered a natural resource, worth mil lions of dollars annually, and informa lion gathered serves the public in con nection with protection and control o. the birds. About 3,000,000 birds have been band ed in North America since 1920, througl the co-operation of the United State Bureau of Biological Survey, and th Canadian National Parks Bureau, De partment of Mines and Resources. Tin Dominion Government made banding a 1

d- " jh official function in 1932, and lias made es more than 25,000 “recovery” records lie relating to migration, range, breeding, ie- and wintering grounds since that time. Lie The actual banding work is usually in done by volunteer workers.