The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-03
BIRDS COMING BACK
FEATHERED sONGsTERs MAKING
THEIR SPRING APPEARANCE.
Varieties Found in the Indianapolis
Observation-Disclosures I'm Advance
of Cold Weather.

atmosphere on several of the days of the
past week and under its benign influence
the trees have begun to show signs of life
and the grass has commenced to assume its
healthy color, green. but a surer sign of
the coming of spring is found in the APP
pearance of the birds. The latter seldom
miss 1t upon the seasons, and generally
when they come it foretells warmer weather,
and when they go it means winter is APP
preaching Anybody who is observing can
see many different kinds of birds these
mornings many of which are varieties I'M
known 70 this locality. Nearly all have
come from the South and some of them
will stop here for the summer, while others
are en- route to places further north. 1t
does seem that the birds possess a great
deal of wisdom or forethought or some
thing, which tells them when to go, and
when to come, and when to stay. Last fall
the robins and native birds all left this
section of the country for the South. They
seemed to know that it was to be a long
cold and hard winter. The year before
many of them remained here, and this
characteristic has led people to say the
birds know when it is to be cold winter
Their coming now must then mean it is
to be warm.
The study of the birds has grown great
deal in the past few years until now in
many sections it amounts to a fad. More
attention is now paid to the habits, families
and characteristics of birds than ever be-
fore. During the past few years a num-
Der of interesting books have been written
upon the subject and many magazine
articles have appeared. Scientific societies
have taken the matter up and the migra-
tions of the birds is now watched from all
parts of the country. Ornithologists
1Ot DIV odp hot orQ flxy
birds now than there were thirty years
ago, although persons who delight to wan
der back in their Imagination to the time
they spent on the farm, deplore the SEEM
ing determination of birds. 1t is we'll
known, however. that there are fewer birds
of plumage now than there was then,
because of the demand of gay feathers for
hats. The ornithologists say there
more birds found in the cities and towns
now than a few years ago, and they at
tribute this fact to the slaughter of the
pugnacious English sparrow. The sparrow
population has decreased and the prettier
and more timid birds dare to come where
they did not three or four years ago. The
cold and the nets have been responsible
for the death of thousands of English spar
rows. Hundreds of them We're frozen to
death the last winter, and the family is not
SO numerous and vigorous as 1t was. Thou
sands of them have been caught in nets to
be used as targets for marksmen, and the
OiH1lnCiOSlSlS iitfu cOInIOfl III The Spd[I0W
degeneration.
The robin is one of the first of the ma
tive birds to make, its appearance and
robin songs have been reported for more
than a week. There is something pathetic
about the robin, and as he is so harmless
and his song is so pleasant he is always
classed first among the birds of this local
ity. 1t is trfe early in the season for the
wren, although few of them have come
in ahead of time. In the wren is shown as
clearly as in any other family some of the
characteristics of the bird tribe. An in
ff~,er ,sr stow, tod hxy
North Pennsylvania street resident. In a
large bush in the rear of his yard there is
many other trees and bushes in the yard,
but the: wrens always choose the one par
ticuiar spot. for home. For, six or seven
years the birds have appeared there every
spring. The birds that will probably build
there this year are not the ones that built
that that I'll the birds V' that viii Why come
this year are ones directed by one
raised there last and the children con-
and mothers. But even this way it seems
strange that one of the little birds can
eral months there and then return to the
happy home of the year before. The adj
commenced to arrive here and those brain
less ones that decided to spend the winter
here are not in a condition to meet those
that had the. wisdom to go South Black
birds frequently attempt to remain here all
winter, but it generally fares badly with
them. There is one thing in birds favor
and that is that he can stand great
deal of cold When winter comes he is
pretty well protected with fat and a good
heavy coat of feathers and can exist so
long his feeding ground is not COW
cred with snow. Persons who have lived
birds gather about the barns and house
when the ground is covered with snow and
which persons naturally suppose would be
many miles south.
The meadow larks coming in and
preparing for the season. The meadow lark
is one of the popular birds and, what is
more, the family has increased wonder
fully in few years. It is too early yet
for Mr. Bobolink. as he generally makes
his appearance in May The bobolink is
somewhat of pessimist and never believes
has evidences. He IS always e ready to to go
again at the first sign of cold weather.
til it is very warm and the flowers are
in bloom. The little humming bird is one
Of Of, the most interesting Of al birds and
say he leaves for the South before the
first breath of cold weather and keeps
on travelling until he reaches the tropics.
where It is. always warm.
The American goldfinch, sometimes called
the. yellow bird, and again the "yaller
for the summer There are many of them
about. and they can be seen almost any
Manv of them are on their way further
north and some of them will remain here.
one must arise early for most of them
are bound north, and it is only a small per
cent. OF those seen mere now tnat breed
here during the summer. Whv it is, one
seems to know, but nearly all the birds in
their migrations fly during the night. They
are best seen in the morning while they are
searching for something to eat The sew
era1 varieties of the woodpecker have come,
and the blue jays are expected next week.
The warblers, to which class the tanager,
the summer yellow bird. the indigo bird and
cat bird, or American hooking bird. and
others belong. not represented yet.
They arc always little late in arriving
and they are not so common as are other
varieties. The singers also wait until their
more vigorous cousins have become estab-
lshed before putting in an appearance.
Among tho singers are classed the wood
thrush, Wilson's thrush and the brown
thrasher The orioles are also generally
week or two behind. The average person
would be SURPRISED to know how many va
rieties of birds there are which nest in this
locality Orrithologists have names for
aheut forty different varieties, many of
which are virtually unknown TO most per-
sons. That lonesome and much-hated bird,
the crow is here already, and with faith
in the leaving of the trees and the success
of the crops. he has commenced to build
his nest in leafiess trees.
But all the birds seen now are not sum-
rler boarders here. There are many birds
which have been remaining near Indianap-
oils because of the "mud climate or more
probably for their ability TO get something
to eat They are snow birds and members
of the sparrow family which already are
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