San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-06-01
TIE AIR FULL OF BIRDS
Migration of the Feathered Whistlers at
the Island of Heligoland.

Migration of the Feathered whistlers at
the Island of Heligoland.
The Island of Heligoland, in the North sea,
is nothing but triangular rock Of perhaps a
hundred acres, but there is probably no spot
of equal size on the earth's surface that is Of
more interest to the student Of birds. 1.-THE
fact is" says Mr.. Seebohm, that this little
island is the only part Of the world of which
the ornithology has been properly worked.
Every little boy on the island is born and
bred ornithologist. Every unfortunate bird
which visits the island has to run the gauntlet
of about forty guns, to say nothing of scores
of blowpipes and catapults.
"The flight and note of every bird are IA
miliar to every islander. A new bird is in
stantly detected. The fisherman steers with
a gun by his side; the peasant digs his pota-
toes with gun ON the turf and heap of
birds on his coat.
Every bird which appears is whistled
within range with marvellous skin. The COM
mon sorts are eaten, the rare ones sold to the
bird suffer, and the new ones taken to
Gatke, the ornithologist."
Mr.. Seebohm visited the island some years
ago to witness the autumnal migration. "For
nearly week." he writes, 1.-THE weather was
dozen birds on the island. On the 18th of
October the afternoon was calm, and in the
evening breeze sprang up from the south
east. called upon Gatke, who advised me
to 90 to bed and be up before sunrise, as in
all probability should find the island swarm
ing with birds Accordingly | turned in
soon after 10.
"At half past 10 was walked with the
news that the migration had already begun.
Hastily dressing myself, at once made for
the lighthouse. The night was almost pitch
dark, but the town was all astir. In every
street men with large lanterns and sort of
anglers landing net were making for the
lighthouse. AS | crossed the potato fields
birds were continually getting up at my feet
"At the lighthouse an intensely interesting
sight presented itself The whole zone of
light within range Of the mirrors was alive
with birds coming and going. Nothing else
was visible in the darkness of the night but
the lantern of the lighthouse vignetted in a
drifting sea of birds From the darkness in
the east clouds of birds were emerging in an
uninterrupted stream.
~ should be afraid to hazard guess as to
the hundreds of thousands that must have
passed in a couple of, hours, but the stray
birds which the lighthouse keeper succeeded
in securing as they fluttered against the wire
netting amounted to almost three hundred.
1.-THE night was starless and the town in
visible, but the island looked like the out
skirts of gas lighted city, being sprinkled |
over with brilliant lanterns. Many of the |
larks alighted on the ground to rest, and al |
lowed the Heligolanders to pass their nets
over them. On some nights as many as l5,- |
600 skylarks have been taken on the island.
"At about o'clock in the morning the |
clouds broke, the stars came out, and the |
migration came to an end, or was continued |
above the range Of our vision. "-Youth's |
Companion T