The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-25
TRUST NOT ROBIN OR BLUEBIRD
A. Ha-siagsrs Of sprf.E, bat Pi- You
Faith to the Wise Hawk. asd Owls.

As Ha-siagers or sprfaE, bat Pa. Your
Faith to the Wise Hawk. asd Owls.
Most folks think that when robins and
blusbirds and other early birds begin to come
back to US from their winter homes In the
South II Is prima facis evidence that the back
bone Of winter is broken and that spring Is
here to stay" said q Westchester county OBJ
server. but they are apt to be very much
mistaken when they depend on that for sign.
The instinct OF these birds il anything but In
fallibls In that respect A few days OF mild.
sunshiny weather In our latitude. even as early
as February. are almost certain to fetch the
blusbirds and robins to US. and they may be
just as certain to suffer for it Insver Day any
attention to them as prophets The hawks and
owls are the birds keep my eye on.
The hawks and owls know when we are GO
ing to have an early spring and they will let
you know it too. II you notice them at their
nesting II they get to work at 1t along in
March. TO matter II the weather is bowling
cold and snow deep on the ground. you may
safely go on and make your arrangements for
getting In your garden crops early In the sea-
SON The sun may be shining and warm
brsszss blowing in March. and the robins and
blusbirds piping and chirping eheerily. but II
the hawks and owls are not at their
nesting yet. pity the robins and blusbirds.
They will have hard lines before ETHEREAL
mildness Ia with us for good have known
the barred owl to nest early as the Odd OF
February. with snow q foot deep on the ground.
/ thought sure the wise bird was away of in
its reckoning that time and was making a
fosl OF itself. But It wasn't We had the
earliest aud evenest spring that rear had
ever known.
In the memorable blizzard March OF 1893
I noticed another conclusive demonstration of
the correctness OF the OWLS Judgment when 1t
came to reading weather indications. Tho
early part OF that March Was very much the
sort OF weather we have been enjoying thus
far during the present month. Not only rob ms
and bluebirds but other song birds had Ap-
pearsd. and were exceedingly JOYOUS. The
barred owl IL denizen Of the deep woods. and
is the chap with the blood-eurdlinR night
whoop voice In the woods near my place
. pair OF these birds had for many years
had their nest in a hollow tree. and they had
been my weather prophets very long time.
During those warm March days Of 1883
found that these owls were not moved TO be-
gin nesting. and couldn't helD wishing that
was able to give the sang 1iris up. so That
trouble that knew must be impending. hut
they had tGith in the sunshine, and wien the
ing along I guess there wasn't many
Of them left to wonder what had
ilc weather my two wise old owls lay low in
their hollow tree. The irst day after the biz
gard when snow WAS piled almost mountain
high around them and there seemed NO pros
pset Of there ever heinR any spTing again,
they went 10 work getting their nest ready for
the season's Matching. Although the weather
turned of warm after the blizzard and spring
came on in earnest not a room or llushird
appeared again before April; The owls knew
their business: the song birds didn't
Have the hawks and owls begun their nest
ing yet this spring. No. they haven't, | am
sorry 20 say it, ,Rotins and blusbirds may
fit and tWittsr and folks may talk about what
an early spring We are going TO have. but
tbat psIf Of OWL in nv Woods. shoss nest h
as YET bare Of eggs. | warn folks that thsy
haven't got old BDrsas on the run yet. not ~
a good deal He Is bound to be eTEcEing his
cheeks again in perhaps more than one howl;
lag blast before the crOeus peeps from its led
or the punetual Arbutus sEsstsns the damp
hillside with its breath. Marx mJ words.
Don't put away the snow shovel yet. And
keep the coal Din full The back bone OF vim
ter may be shattered little. but II will stiffen
up good and strong and give spTing lively
tussls before she succeeds In tumb!lnR the ED
fellow cut Of her LAP. D0R't forget Il"