I would like to make a respectful inquiry.

While there are statistical measurements that can be applied, they don’t bring much meaning or insight, and there are no statistical tools for making predictions that can be meaningfully applied to a sample size of one.  So while I certainly understand the emotional power of holding a hummingbird in ones hand, and any close experience with a rare bird, I don’t understand what knowledge can be gained by banding a vagrant bird.  With no opportunity for scientific learning, why stress the bird further?

Scott Spangenberg
Amherst, NH

On Nov 5, 2013, at 10:40 AM, Courtney Appleyard <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Has anyone banded it?