The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-05-30
A WEATHER-wlsE BIRD.
rho Owl Lays Over the Robin or Any
Other Bird a. an Indicator.


Other Bird a. an Indicator.
and bluebirds and other early birds
begin to come back to us from their
winter homes in the south it is prima
facie evidence that the backbone Of
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 a sign The instinct of
these birds is anything but infallible
in that respect. A few days of mild,
sunshiny weather in our latitude, even
as early as February, are almost GER
tain to fetch the bluebirds and robins
to US. and they may be just as certain
to suffer for it. 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. bowling cold
and snow deep on the ground, you may
safely go on and make your arrange
ments for getting in your garden crops
early in the season. The. sun may be
shining and warm breezes blowing in
March. and the robins and bluebirds
piping and chipping 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 ether
ial mildness is with us for good / have
known the barred owl to nest as early
as the ed of February, with snow a
foot deep on the ground. 1 thought
sure the wise bird was away off in its
reckoning that time and was making a
fool OF itself. But it wasn't We had
the earliest and evenest spring that
year had eyer known.
In the memorable blizzard of March,
1855, 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 Not
only robins and bluebirds. but other
song birds had appeared and were ex-
eeedingly joyous The barred owl is
denizen of the deep woods. and is the
chap with the blood-curdling night
whoop voice. In the woods near my
place a pair of these birds had for
many years had their nest in d hol-
low tree, and they had been my
weather prophets a very long time.
During these warm March days of 1888
! found that these owls were not moved
to begin nesting. and / couldn't help
that was able to give the
song birds tip. so that they could
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 came
bowling and whooping along guess
thene wasn't many of them left TO
wond er what had struck them. During
those days of terrific weather my two
owls Law low in their hollow
Tree The first day after the blizzard.
was piled almost mount tain
high around them and there seemed no
Of there being any spring
again, ,they went TO work getting their
hest re ady for the seasons Matching.
the weather turned OF warm
Ifter the blizzard and spring came on
n earnest. not a robin or bluebird sp- ]
'eared gain before April The owls
NEW tn cir business; the soag birds |
Iidn' t-N. Y. Sun.