The Washington bee., 1894-04-14
ON SWIFT PlNioNs.
The Mysterious Migration of Birds and
its Destructive EffoCfs

The Mysterious Migration of Birds and
its Destructive Effects.
Ornithologists for a long time past
have been trying to discover some way
Of protecting birds from destruction
by lighthouses. 1t is reckoned that
along the Atlantic coast hundreds of
thousands of feathered creatures an
nually are killed by flying against the
structures which Uncle Sam has set
up as warning to mariners.
In a general way it may be said
that timid and feeble winged birds
prefer the night for migration, while
those which are strong winged and
bold, seeking no concealment, migrate
by day. Swallows and snipe migrate
by day; thrushes, warblers and fly
catchers by night. During storms
particularly in protracted eastern
blows-great numbers of birds fy
against the masts and smokestacks of
steamers. Frequently from 200 to 300
are picked up in night on the deck
Of these vessels. In one case the count
Of victims was over 700.
During storm lighthouse will
often be surrounded by myriads Of
birds Of many species. Having been
so unfortunate as to start off in their
migration on falling barometer, they
have got lost and flocked to the light,
fiuttering about the lantern, and dash
Ing upon it or against the tower. One
lightkeeper, describing such a phen-
omenon, says that, as far as he could
see by the beam of the light, the air
appeared to be a solid mass Of birds"
When one considers the railroad
speed at which a duck flies, it is not
surprising that the impact of it's
weight against the plate glass should
break it.
Telegraph wires across the line of
migration On the prairies kill great
numbers Of birds, woodcock, especial
ly, because they fly low. But all sorts
of feathered creatures, from sparrows
to swans, fall victims to this human
device. Amongst them snipe also are
conspicuous. 1t has been noticed that
when telegraph line has been newly
established great many birds are
slain in this way, whereas after two
or three seasons comparatively few
suffer. This indicates that birds
learn by experience
San Francisco, Is a stretch Of beach
on which after storm great numbers
Of ducks and divers. and even many
albatrosses, may be picked up. as we'll
as petrels, cOrmorants, and other
birds. Some Of them, as the petrels,
dying low, are struck by big waves,
and thrown upon the shore Others,
like the cormorants and surf-ducks,
are dashed upon the beach while swim
ming near shore Elsewhere along
that part Of the coast there are only
rocks, and the waterfowl dashed upon
them are not stranded, but float off
again. to land eventually on the strip
of beach above mentioned
Vessels coasting off shore from ten to
100 miles are often visited by birds
which have been swept off the land by
winds. IT at great distance from
the land, they invariably die from
exhaustion after reaching the ships.
Sometimes hundreds are seen to fall
dying into the water within a few
minutes. being unable to sustain fight
any longer. In fact, the ocean an
nually proves burial place for vast
numbers of feathered creatures. Like
wise, immense numbers are lost in the
great lakes. being blown Off shore by
winds, or becoming exhausted in try
ing to cross those sheets of water.
There is no truth in the popular no.
ton that birds are possessed of
faculty which enables them to foretell
weather and time their movements
accordingly.
One Of the fastest birds is the fal-
hn H,1ol> I,or +bo
flight Of which is so rapid that the
eye is sometimes unable to follow it.
1t is able easily to overtake any duck.
But it is thought that swifts and hum
ming birds are even quicker travellers.
The migration Of birds have hong
been regarded as mysterious in many
ways. Nevertheless, science has elu-
cidated the problem to a considerable
extent. The fact is, that these animals
have definite routes Of travel. They
are guided by such geogra phical fea-
lures as coast lines, rivers, valleys,
and mountain ranges. From the
height at which they fly, the surface
Of the earth presents the appearance
Of a map, on which, at night, in the
light Of moon and stars, the hills,
plains, lakes, etc, are more or less
distinctly outlined for 100 miles or
more in every direction. Any one
who has spent clear night on the
summit Of mountain will not ques-
ton this statement The older birds
which lead the flights have no diff
Guilty, guided by these landmarks, in
following paths which they have re-
peatedly traversed before. Points
along the route constitute stations. At
such places ordinarily promonotories
extending into the sea, edges of forest
bordering extensive plains, or extremi
ties Of mountain ranges-the migatory
tide hesitates and halts before ventur-
ing On the dangerous stage head. This
pause allows the stragglers to come
up. Oceanic birds doubtless find their
way to their breeding grounds over
the painless seas by using coast lines
and sea islands as guides.