LONG-DISTANCE FLIGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 August 1941, Page 3

LONG-DISTANCE FLIGHT

DUCK TRAVELS 3,500 MILES. BIRD-BANDING RECOVERY RECORD. PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Manitoba. The long-distance flight of a young blue-winged teal from the prairies oi Western Canada to South America is revealed by a; recent bird-banding recovery record. This duck, which was banded near here during September, 1940, flew about .3,500 miles to Coyaima, Colombia, South America, where it was discovered in March of this year. Bird banding has added considerably to the knowledge obtained about game birds, and. information collected in this manner is used in'the administration and framing of bird protection laws to conserve and perpetuate the various species. In the Maritime Provinces much good work has been done by banding in an attempt to reveal the migrations of woodcock, of which there are abundant covers in all three provinces; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. These provinces also abound in geese, duck, partridge and other game birds.

Because birds are international, the work of banding them is conducted in full co-operation between the Canadian and United States Governments, and to some extent with Newfoundland, Mexico and South American countries. In Canada, most of the banding is done by about 200 voluntary workers, acting under Dominion government supervision.