I'm interested in that study that found individual finches rarely return
to a feeder. The name of the study, who made it, the methods used for
identifying individual birds, what species of finch with which they were
studying, etc.. The reason I ask is that I and people helping me have
banded since l986 a total of 3,256 House Finches, and we found that
more than a few were retrapped. Of retraps, males predominated. If they
were Purple Finches, I tend to agree with the study. Of these birds we
have banded only 265 so our sample is about 25% less than theirs. So I
would appreciate a copy of the study.

Incidentally, Spotted Towhees (the name required by the Bird Banding Lab
in Patuxent, MD) are prone to repeat. One female I retrapped 18 times,
sometimes several times a day, but the last time proved its undoing
because a Northern Shrike entered the trap and that was the end of the
unfortunate lady.

Eugene Kridler
Broken down retired wildlife biologist - sob!

Oh, yes, you've had too much coffee when:
You get a speeding ticket even when you're parked.
You chew on another person's fingernails.
Your eyes stay open when you sneeze.
You lick your coffee pot clean.
You can jump start your car without having to use cables.
You're so jittery that people can use your hands to blend their
Margaritas.

And a lot more that are equally bad. Just thought I'd lighten up the
boid chatter and spats a bit. Put down that shoe!