The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-08
BIRD. Of North Dakota.

ny lH9s. u. st9ref, faSluernhst
In giving list Of the Birds Of North
Dakota I will describe only o few of
the most prominent.
On account of its size and majestic
bearing the Bald Eagle takes the lead
1t is without dispute the most striking
and beautiful of the eagles. 1t has
been considered unfortunate that he
was made type of the American Ma
tion, for, as Benjamin Franklin urged,
"ae l. 2 bird of bad moral character,
and does hSf get his living honestly"
He often let's The &sA hawk catch the
fish, and then pursuess it thus impeded
lis its flight, forces it to drop the fish,
which, sdsGitly turning, the eagle rob-
Der catches In tbs air. In certain feats
of fight it surpasses ill other birds
soaring in circles out of sight, without
psr;sptibly !. moving vl 1T its . Mines;
rushing sound dropping perpendicularly
fYsta ilamense heights. Tile name Bald
is in reality Risnomer. The head is
thickly feathefed. Eqt Of 2 snowy white
color. Its length Is about 40 in, and
the spread of it's wings about 7 ft, We
have also the Golden and Grey Eagles.
Oyptey or Fish Hawk, Turkey and
commsa Rnzzard Swallow tailed Hawk
or Kite, Kestfsl ard Gye Falcon. The
Pigeon Hawk may lie seen sailing over
the pr..irie from early spring al late
in autumn. Young prairie chickens,
wild ducks and poultry are alike its
victims.
The Sandhill Crane is here often
called the wild turkey, and is such OK
celiept eating that the mistake is not to
be wondered at. 1t stands 4 It. high
and weighs 12to ls lbs. In September
they collect in doeks ~ the grain
fields. They utter peculiar ely, AZ
wary SID hard to approach. We have,
too, the White Crane, Common Crane,
Night Heron, and Bitten. The Whoop-
ing Crane is the largest Vi ayr birds.
color pure white, with tips Ct
wings black, it freqpents marches.
The Pinnated drs4se' or Prairie
Chicken is very plentiful on slf prai-
ries. The male Is remarkable for wing
like feathers projecting from the neck,
beneath which il bsse eae. like sD-
pendage of bright yellow. We hsye
another variety with bare yellow legs.
called the Minnesota Chicken. Tho
Ruffed Grouse. kR9wn in the east as the
Partridge and in the wesk Is the Ameri-
can Pheasant, is so called freta the neck
feathers which when spread form rift
like tlat of Queen Elizabeth. In the
spring this msle bird standing on a fall
len tree beats it with Ais wings in way
to produce the sound Gated "Irum-
ming" which may bc heard ut q great
distance.
The common Snipe is quite plentiful
here in spring and fall along the edges
Of sloughs. Rising almost from under
your feet cry "sea-eee! sea-epe" they
fly of il g Zig-zag course. When
properly cooksd there is no more
delicate morsel, though there is but
q mouthfu1.
The Virginian or Horned Owl is frora
&c to 25 in: long while its wings spread
from y te5ft. It is bold and de:
stru.tiye hunter ata Ike the Snow Owl
is terrible foe to the st4slle. enimals.
It's weird aud hollow cry Of 'fWstas.
Wahoo!' has caused many brave man
to tremble. The Snow Owl is remark
2hle for its soft white plumage. It is
qsuaaiy seen here ip winter perched on
grsFsn stacks 4, snow drifts, Other
- 2. yies are the Bfrr, Hawk, Prairie,
Rosnd Head, and 'Bdffowlss Owls.
Wild Geese are numerous" here in
April aud September. There are three
varieties, the Brant. Cans1s, aAd Way
or Snow Goose. The Canada Geese
frequently hatch here. I have some
6ae specimens domesticated. which ]
got by posing the eggs under hens
to hatch; they st+eSy to be easily
raised, are quite tame, igad..a44. end
weis. y pounds each. '''
In bright pi~maged birds We have the
Red winged Blackbird, Orangehead