Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-07-09
BIRDS OF THE SEA.
PANIC AMONG THE FOWL ATTHE APPROACH
OF A STORM
Seeking Places Of Rsfngs-Efscts Of Natures
Franks Upon the Feathered Tribe.

waters. but the many sea birds that /
I've and float upon the story Atlantic /
are greatly disheartened and frighten-
ed by the furious anger Of old Neptune.
Along the rocky coast Of New Eng
land. or the sandy reefs Of the South
ern States, the fOcks Of sea fowl denote
the approaching storm by wild and I'M
earthly cries, which latter mingle with
the roar OF the surf, and the wash OF 4
the rain and spray.
Far out at sea the birds utter wlld
cries Of alarm when the ocean begins 10
darken and the wind 70 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 piteOus cries and excited calls.
Washed hither and thither by the re- |
lentless storm, they fly around in hope /
less search for some har6Or OF retreat. |
Should the light OF some passing vessel, |
or the fashnght Of a warning light !
house attract their attention, they are |
lured on 70 q danger FAR greater than
that experienced from the waves and
winds.
SEEKING HARBORS OF REFUGE.
Storms do not always warn the birds
in time TO permit them 20 reach the
shore. The terms, petrelS, gulls, ducks
and other sea fowl may be far from the
shore, Swimming over the water IN
graceful sweeps when coast storm sud
denly comes out OF the northwest AT
the first sign Of such 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
70 6y around IA flockS until accident
leads them to a retreat. Sea fowls at
such times flock together, and lost
company may number thousands OF
birds. representing heterogeneous col
lection OF all the species OF sea birds.
Such motley collections frequently
dash against the lighthouse Of some ex-
posed point, where hundreds Of their
number are killed by the collision.
Ocean steamers serve as an allurement
for them, and they follow the light Of
the vessel as a moth does the candle
liaht. If not attracted by any light the
birds hy around until exhausted by
their exertiOnS or until the storm abates.
During prolonged storms thousands or
lost sea fowls are destroyed upon the
ocean through their inability 10 reach
land or 20 Outride the furious gales.
While a large proportion OF the hock
would eventually succum6 TO the fnry
OF the wind and waves, there are many
others that would show their marvellous
powers 10 outriding the storm.
EXHAUSTED AT SEA.
To fly against gale that is blowing
At the rate Of forty or fifty miles an
hour would require bones Of iron and
muscles of steel, and the lost birds
very rarely succeed in holding their
own in such a storm. They buffet with
the gale bravely, circling around and
around 10 make Roadway against 1t, but
In time they are swept far out 10 sea.
The waves offer no resting place for
them, and they are forced TO trust en-
tizaJy to their wings for safety. After
heavy storms OF several days the terms
and petrels have been found a thousand
miles from the shore, weak and almost
dead from their eXertiOnS.
Others have been discovered floating
on the water dead, the black and blue
patches on their bodies ling the ter
rible story OF strain and hopeless eXer-
tiOn They fought bravely against the
adverse elements, and only succumbed
after long battle. Incoming vessels
have brought solitary sea fowl that
would light upon the masts Of the ships
when completely exhausted after fight
ing against the storms. This welcome
place Of rest is secured despite all pres
ence Of danger from the passengers.
Floating spars and wrecks have been
the means of saving the lives Of such
lost birds. They would float on them
for hours or days until they became
thoroughly rested from their labOrs and
then they would begin their journey
toward some shore at the first favorable
opportunity, Their instinct at such
times is unerring and they generally
make for the nearest point Of land, al
though it may be hundreds of miles
away and they are completely turned
around. Ii may be, however, that they
take their bearings from the sun while
they are floating upon their temporary
restless buOys.
DRIVEN ASHORE BY STORMS,
Nearly all the sea birds like 10 keep
out TO sea, and i'm the north Of Ireland
there is an old rhyme current which in
dicates that the gulls only approach the
shore when driven in by storm or by
the warnings Of heavy gale. The
cOuplet reads
Sea gull, sea gull sit on the sand;
It's never fue weather when you come TO
land
When the storm approaches, the long,
sharp whistleing of the curlewS, the
wild cries OF the sea guliS aud the
sharp, piercing screams of the terms an
nounce that danger is at hand. The
sea grows restless aud chOppy. An Oc-
casiOnal puff OF wind will moan across
the water and force whitecaps into mo-
ton. The birds then assemble along
the shore-some seeking for their food
among the rocks half a mile out, while
others will run along the beach or 90
to the inland 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 viii occasionally
venture out over the waves 10 fish for
food, but they soon ind that this work
is Improbable.
When the storm has subsidized the
coasts are great objects OF interest TO
the sportsmen. Every specie Of sea
fowl Is to 6e found somewhere along
the beaches or inland marshes. They
do not return to the wide sea for day
or two after the storm has allotted, and