The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-10
STORMS AND SEA FOWL.
When Unable to Reach Shore They Are
Driven About by the Wind.
FToD1 the Dsfroit E7ros Prose

w hen ENABLE to Reach Shore They Are
Driven About by the Wind.
From the Detroit Free Press.
Far out at 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 danger. The few which are caught in
the storm far from the land make the wild
screaming OF the storm more horrible by
their plteous cries ami excited calls. Washed
hither and thither by the relentless storm
they fly around i'll hopeless search for some
harbor of retreat. Should the light of some
passing vessel or the flash light Of a warning
light house attract their attention, they are
lured on to danger far greater than that
experienced from the waves and winds.
Storms do not always warn the birds 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 water in graceful sweeps when a
coast storm suddeuly comes out of the north
west. At the first sign of such a change in
the 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 focks until accident leads
them to retreat. Sea fowl at such times
flock together, ard lost company may
number thousands. representing hetero-
geneous collection of all the species Of sea
birds.
Such motley collections frequently dash
against the light house of some exposed
point where hundreds are killed by the COL
hsion. Ocean steamers serve as an allure.
ment for them. and they follow the light of
vessel as moth does the candle. II not
attracted by any light the birds fly around
until exhausted by their exertions or until
the storm abates. During prolonged storms
thousands of lost sea fowl are DESTROYED
upon the ocean through their inability to
reach land or to on tride the furious gale.
While large proportion of the flock would
eventually Succumb to the fury OF the wind
and waves. there are many others that
would show their marvellous powers in outs
riding the storm.
To fly against a gale that is blowing at
the rate Of forty or fifty miles au hour
would require bones of iron and muscles of
steel, and the lost birds very rarely succeed
in holding their own in such Il storm. They
buffet with the gale bravely, circling
around and around to make head way
against it. but in time they are swept far
out TO sea. The waves offer no resting
place for them, and they are forced to trust
entirely to their wings for safety. After
heavy storms of everal DAYS the terms and
petrels have been found 200 miles from the
shore, weak and almost dead from their ex-
ertions.
Others have been discovered footing on
the water dead, the black and blue patches
on their bodies telling the terrible story of
strain and hopeless exertion. They fought
brayely against the adverse elements, aud
only succumbed after long battle. Iu-
coming vessels have brought solitary seq
fowl that would light upon the masts of the
ships when completely exhausted after
fighting against the storms. This welco ne
place of rest is secured despite all danger
from the passengers.
Floating spars and wrecks have been the
means of saving the lives OF suoh lost birds
They would float on them for hours or DAYS
until they became thoroughly rested from
their labor5, and then they would begin
their long journey toward some shore at
the first favorable opportunity. Their in
stinct at such times is unerring and they
generally make for the nearest point of
land, although IL may be hundreds Of miles
away and they are completely turned
around. It may be. however, that they
take their bearings from the sun while they
are floating upon their temporary restless
buoys.
Nearly all the sea birds like to keep out
to sea, and In the north of Ireland there is
an old rhyme current which ind Gates that
the gulls only approach the shore when
driven in by storm or by the warnings Of a
heavy gale. The cuplet reads:
Sea gulls, sea gulls. sit on the sand:
It's never fine weather when you come to ,laud
When the storm approaches the long,
sharp whlstiing of the curlews, the wild
cries of the seagulls, aud the sharp piercing
screams of the terms announce that danger
is at hand. The SEQ grows restless and
choppy. An occasional puff Of wind will
moan across the water aud force whtecaps
into motion. The birds then assemble along
the shore, some seeking for the food among
tae rocks half Il mile out, while others will
run along the beach or go to the island
marshes
AS the fury Of the storm increases all of
them will get In beyond the reach of the
wild waves. The heavy wind makes flying
a difficult art, and most Of them trust to
their legs They run along the sand or hide
In the rocks. The terms and gulls will oc,
casionally venture out over the waves to
fish for food and they soon find that the
work is Improbable.
When the storm has subsidized the coasts
are great objects OF interest to the sports-
men. Every species of sea fowl is to be
found somewhere along the beaches or in
land marshes They do not return to the
wide sea for day or two after the storm
has abated, and then they are driven by the
hunters gun.