The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-27
THE BIRDS MOVING TINE
AT THIS SEASON TIE NORTH is
DESERTED FOR TIE SOUTH.


This is the season Of the year when hum
dreds OF thousands Of birds migrate, by
night and by day, in large battahons from
the frost bound north down TO the sunny
south. These migrations form one Of the
most interesting studies Of ornithologists.
who tell us that the little voyagers make
theis long journey with the precision and
discipline of an army on the march. They
have their advance and rear guards, while
the main body is kept compact. OF course
there are stragglers who are unable to keep
I'D with their companions, but these fall
out of the ranks. and, unless they perish,
make their way as best they can to their
destination.
OF so much interest are these annual
migrations that the department of agricul-
ture at Washington spends large sums of
money making Investigations, during both
of the migratory seasons. which are the
spring and fall. The object is to determine
every movement Of interest in the passage
Of the birds. and to distinguish what classes
are harmful to the farmers.
This latter question is serious. 1t is now
under consideration whether the United
States government would not be wise to fol-
low the example of two or three Of the
Australian legislatures in offering O bounty
for the eggs of birds that destroy the grain
aud fruits, or certain sum per capita for
the birds themselves. A man NAV make a
good living in some Of the Australian colo
MES by taking his gun or a snare and de-
voting himself to the destruction Of the
English sparrow.
The agricultural department sends out a
printed blank to every lighthouse keeper
along the coast, with request to him to
describe the kinds OF birds that pass by the
lanterns at night, or that are found dead in
the morning around the base of the towers
The keepers are further requested to note
the number of birds that they see or find,
and, if they cannot determine the species,
they are asked to send a head and wing to
the department.
The heads and wings of the birds undenti-
fed, on arriving at Washington, are sent TO
the Smithsonian institute, or the Natural
museum, for the professors to determine
their kind. Just now large bales and
boxes containing these sections Of birds are
being received at these institutions, where
they are handed over to the ornithologists
Now that the cold weather has set in In
the north. millions of birds of almost every
species are on the wing for the south. They
are travelling along the same high roads
over which they have passed from time i'm
~
gregations down the valley of the Mississip-
pi, and will not on any account depart from
that route until they reach their winter
abiding place. Others skirt along the fringe
Of the Rocky mountains, Thousands and
thousands In flock, hating at any stop
ping place, 80 long as the weather is mild,
and, when it is cold again, rising high into
the air with a tumult Of noises and continu-
ing their southwark march.
,sr~Lk ~ v,ntI ,<G
birds pass along the eastern and western
coasts of the continent, and will continue to
do so for the next two, or perhaps three.
weeks. 1t is these birds that the lighthouse
keepers aud other coast officers in the en-
ploy of the government are instructed to
study and report upon. The reports sent in
latterly by the lighthouse keepers are said
to be very interesting. They show. among
other things, that, for the period following
the cold snap which reignad over the north
ern part of the continent from Maine to
Hudson bay, unusually large congregations
of birds moved southwark.
On nights when there are no stars to be
seen, and there is no light anywere In the
sky, the birds become bewildered and fly
toward any light they see. One lighthouse
keeper on Long Island, in his report just
handed to the department, says: ION one
dark night think I must have seen, from
about II o'clock to dawn, more than 1000
birds pass my tower. There must have
been quite that number, judging from the
size of the f1ocks which swept by on the
wind like great dark clouds. The stragglers
from the main focks made straight for the
light, and many dashed themselves to
pieces"
The plate glass Of these lanterns Is from a
quarter to half an inch thick, and the birds
come against it with such force and in such
numbers that they make the lantern fairly
culver by their impact. But some of the
birds are very cautious and do not hit the
glass, but hover around and around with
wide open. bright and frightened eyes, glar-
ing at the light The birds that strike the
glass generally break their bills or fracture
their skulls, and the ground around the base
OF the towers on the following morning is
covered with their dead bodies.
Among the birds that are now migrating
are the loon, the tiniest warbler; the little
humming birds and the great wild goose,
which breeds in millions all across the CONT
Dent and from the shores of Hudson bay
down to the Northern New England states.
Moreover, they come from Labrador, New
foundland and even from Greenland.
The goose has greater wing power than
any other bird that is known. 1t will fly
200 miles without resting. This is proved
by the fact that they cross the points in the
Gulf OF st. Lawrence measuring that dis
lance, and they do not seem at all ex-
hausted on alighting. They remain. of
course, at the first stopping place for few
days feeding. Then, if the wind is fair,
that is to say, blowing in the direction of
their march, they take wing again and fly
probably another 700 miles without stop
ping.
The brant or barnacle geese are nearly as
good flyers as the Canada geese, but they
Keep to themselves and seem to be in q
greater hurry to get south. Then come
along vast streams of duck, including the
mergansers-the red-breasted ones of this
variety being the most numerous-mallard,
zeal, black and wood ducks and the great
northern loon drive past on the storm with
tnelr goblin cry. Following these are the
rooms, thrushes, meadow larks, bobolinks
Klngfshers, woodpeckers (the golden-wing
nearly always leading), nuthatohes and the
saving crows which are the noisiest Of all.
nhey seem to forget all discipline, and fill
'ne night air with their scolding.
only few nights ago party Of scient-
1sSs went down after sunset to Bedloe's
Island TO witness the passage Of the birds
aug 70 note whatever might occur to them
as Delhg worthy of subsequent inquiry. A
report OF their observations will soon be
completed and ready for publication in the
official records.
-; me night selected was one Immediately
Iolowlng the cold snap, and the scientists
wei wrapped in their heavy winter coats
.naue Ineir way to the upper gallery Of the
statue OF Liberty, and took their places
Tnuer tne flaming torch of the goddess.
lucy waited two or three hours
but NOT q bird oar,o