Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-10-15
SEA BIRDS III UAAES.
PANIC AMONG THE WILD FOWL AT
THE APPROACH OF A STORM.

times, However, They Are Too Far Out
at Sea 10 Get Back in Time.
Tho heavy storms Of the sea trouble
not the ships which sail upon its waters,
but the many sea birds that live and
float upon the stormy Atlantic are
greatly disheartened and frightened by
the furious anger Of old Neptune.
Along the rocky coasts OF New Eng
land or the sandy reefs Of the southern
states, the hocks Of sea fowl denote the
approaching storm by wild and I'M
earthly cries, which latter ningle with
the roar Of the surf and the wash of the
rain and spray.
Far out ut sea the birds utter wild
cries Of alarm when the ocean begins to
darken and the wind TO moan across the
expansive waste Of waters, and with all
the speed possible they fly toward some
point of land to escape the dancer. The
few which are caught IN The orm. far
from the land, make the W d. a"reaming
Of the storm more horrible by their
piteous cries and excited calls. Washed
hither and thither by the relentless
storm, they fly around in hopeless
search for some harbor OF retreat.
Should the light of some passing vessel
or the fash light of some warning light
house attract their attention they are
lured on TO a danger far greater than
that experienced from the waves and
winds.
} Storms do not always warn the birds
J in time to permit them to reach the
shore. The terms, petrels, gulls, ducks
and other sea fowl may be far from
shore, skimming over the seain graceful
sweeps when coast storm suddenly
comes ont Of the northwest At the first
sign of such u change in tho weather,
the birds invariably seek some harbor OF
safety, but If the storm shuts them out
from the coast they are forced TO fly
around in Hocks until accident leads
them 10 safe retreat. Sea fowl ut such
times flock together, and lost company
may number thousands Of birds, repre-
/ senting heterogeneous collection Of all
o the species of sea birds.
1 Such motley collections frequently
dash against the lighthouse Of some ex-
Z posed point, where hundreds Of their
: number are killed by the collision.
! Ocean steamers serve rs an allurement
g for them, and they follow the light Of the
vessels rs a moth does n candle light. If
4 not attracted by any light, the birds fly
4 around until exhausted by their exer-
tons, or until the storm abates During
= prolonged storms thousands Of lost sea
fowl are destroyed upon the ocean
A through their inability TO reach land or
4 10 outride the furious gales While a
, large proportion Of the flock would
y eventually succumb 20 the fury OF the
II wind and waves, there are many others
T. that would show their marvellous pow
ers in outriding the storm.
=. To fly against gale that is blowing
y at the rate Of forty or fifty miles an hour
Ie would require bones Of iron and muscles
D. Of steel, and the lost birds very rarely
y succeed in holding their own in such a
g storm. They buffet with the gale
I bravely, circling around and around 10
y make headway against IL, but In time
D" they are swept far out to sea. The
ID waves offer no resting place for them
and they are forced 10 trust entirely "a
Ia their wings for safety. After heavy
W storms Of several days the terms and
W petrels have been found a thousand
IS miles from the shore, weak and almost
!" dead from their exertions.
i Others have been discovered floating
y. on the water dead, the black and blu'
ht patches on their bodies telling the terri
be BILE story Of strain and hopeless exertion
ct They fought bravely against the adverse
e elements and only succumbed after :
long battle. Incoming vessels hav'
y brought solitary sea fowl that would
4, light upon the Inasts Of the ships wher
completely exhausted after fighting
d. against the storms. This welcome plac,
TO Of rest is secured despite all presence Of
danger from the passengers.
ID Floating spars and wrecks have beer
lie the means Of saving the lives Of sucf
lost birds. They would float on then
:, = for hours or days until they becam'
"a thoroughly rested from their labors, ant
nj then they would begin their long jour
ney toward some shore at the first favor
Il, able opportunity. Their instinct at sucl
ne times is unerring, and they generally
at make for the nearest point Of land, al
=" though it may be hundreds Of mile
b. away and they are completely turne'
n. around. II may be, however, that the!
he take their bearings from the sun Will
er they are floating upon their temporar.
N restless buoys.
Nearly all Of the sea birds like 10 keel
en- out 10 sea, and IN the north Of Irelan'
co there is an old rhyme current which In
.et dictates that the guils only approach tn
ID shore when driven in by storm or b.
lie. the warnings Of heavy gale. tn
&c. couplet reads:
err Sea guh. sea gull sit on the sand,
r. It's never fine weather when you come 20 LAND
When the storm approaches the long
m sharp whistling Of the curlews, the viii
cries Of the sea gulls and the sharp, pierc
ing screaIns Of the terms announce tina
a danger IL at hand. The sea grows rest
Ter less and choppy. An occasional puff O
he wind will moan across the water an
] 4 s,.A Ia nd