The Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS) organizes exploration and research in the British sector of the Antarctic, and is unique in having maintained bases in the Antarctic for more than 13 consecutive years.FIDS originated in 1943, and its first bases were established in 1944.At the end of 1956 there were 10 bases permanently occupied, with a total of 76 men in the wintering parties (Map I and Polar Record 8(57): 526-31, 1957), also a temporary one at Halley Bay on the Weddelt Sea for the Royal Society's program for the International Geophysical Year {IGY), 1957-1958.In 1957 another base (Base J was established and occupied on the Graham Coast, Graham Land t Palmer Peninsula).Unlike that of most other Antarctic expeditions, FIDS policy is to encourage men to stay for 2 years, and to have hal,f the personnel changing every year.The resulting mixture of experienced with inexperienced men facilitates continuity in research.Al. though represented by relatively few scientists in the research projects, biology has benefited greatly from this continuity.No better example of this can be found than in the FIDS bird-banding scheme, which was the first extensive banding program for the Antarctic.Other banding in the Antarctic has been summarized by Austin (1957).Here will be outlined the objectives, methods and some of the more interesting resul.ts of the FIDS bird-banding, with which both of us have been closel'y associated.Sladen was medical officer and biologist to the expedition in 1947-51; he .spent 1 year at Hope Bay (Base D), 1 at Signy Island (Base H) and another on R.R.S.
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Sladen et al. (1958) studied this question.