The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-05-12
A wEATHER.w,sE BIRD.
The Owl Lays Over the Robin or Any
Other Bird as an Indicator.

The Owl Lays Over the Robin or Any
Other Bird as an Indicator.
"NIost folks think that when robin,
and bluebirds and other early birds
begin to come back to us from Their
winter homes in the south IL is prime
facie evidence that the backbone oil
winter is broken and that spring is
here to stay" said Westchester coun.
ty observer; but they are apt to be
very much mistaken when they depend
on that for sign. The instinct o!
these birds is anything but infallible
sunshiny weather in our latitude, even
as early as February, are almost cer-
tain to fetch the blucbirds and robins
to us, and they may be just as certain
to suffer for 1t. never pay any atten.
ton to them as prophets. The hawks
and owls are the birds l keep my eye
on.
"The hawks and owls know when we
are going to have an early spring, and
they will let you know it, too, If you
notice them at their nesting. If they
get to work at it along in March, no
matter if the weather is howling cold
safely go on and make your arrange.
ments for getting in your garden crops
early in the season. The sun may be
Ginning and warm breezes blowing in
March, and the robins and bluebirds
piping and chirping cheerily, but If the
hawks and owls are not at their nest.
ing yet, pity the robins and bluebirds
They will have hard lines before etbar
ial mildness is with us for good. l have
known the barred owl to nest as early
as the 22d OF February, with snow a
foot deep on the ground thought
sure the wise bird was away off in its
reckoning that time and was making q
fool of itself But it wasn't. We had
the earliest and evenest spring that
year had ever known.
In the memorable blizzard of March
1888, I noticed another conclusive dem
onstration of the correctness of the
owls Judgment when it came to read
ing weather indications. The early
part of that March was very much the
sort of weather we have been enjoy
ing thus far the present month. No
only robins and bluebir but othe
song birds had appeared and were ex
ceedingly joyous. The barred owl is
denizen of the deep woods. and is th
chap with the blood-curdling night
whoop voice. In the woods near m,
place a pair of these birds had fol
many years had their nest in hol
low tree, and they had been IN,
weather prophets a very long time
During these warm March days of 1SS
found that these owls were not move,
to begin nesting, and | couldn't hell
wishing that was able to give th
song birds a tip, so that they coul,
hurry south again and escape the trou
BILE that | knew must be impending
But they had faith in the sunshine
and when the sudden blizzard cam
bowling and whooping along CUES
there wasn't many of them left t
wonder what had struck them. Durin
those days of terrific weather my tw
wise old owls lay low in their holloy
tree. The first day after the blizzard
when snow was piled almost mountain
high around them and there seemed n
prospect of there being any sprin.
again, they went to work getting thei
nest ready for the seasons Matching
Although the weather turned off war;
after the blizzard and spring came o
in earnest, not robin or bluebird az
peared again before April. The owl
knew their business; the song bird
didn't.-N. y. Sun.