Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-11
THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS.
They Begin Their Twittsring Flight
Southwark in september.

For the lover of birds September is a
month in which every hour at the desk or
in the Office is sorely begrudged. Once
again in the shrubbery flied with the old
friends whose Acquaintance was made ear
~ in the spring. In August the search
for bird-ife was ofttimes most discour-
aging. and ii would seem that the feather
ed folk had deserted all the dear old
haunts. But in this month hebold the fea-
thercd hosts once more. This first cool
weather brings a wave Of the little winged
spiitcs, most of them being the warblcrs.
They are on their way south now, and to
the amateur the new dresses of many Of
them make recognition a bit difficult. A
greater number are young birds which
have not vet attained the plumage of ma
turity. Then, too many of the adult birds
have donned their travelling gowns, which
are much sOberer than the gorgeous dress
of the nuptidl season. The spring songs
are lacking now, but the familiar twitter-
ines and characteristic notes are to be
hcarG wherever the birds are found. The
fall light is in reality one of the most in
tereStine phases Of brd-Study. He who
would know his feather friends thorough
~ must be abroad with notebook and
pencil daily, for many of the birds tarry
but for a day or two on their way south.
Species which were by no means com
mon in the spring will often be seen in
unexpected numbers during the fall mgra-
ton, as il they varied their routes of
tarNcl between the limits of their habitat.
Those who dwell along the scacoast have
an opportunity of studying phase of
bird life the tragedy of migration, which
those further inland know nothing Of At
no season of the year do so many of tho
fcathered folk come to untimely death by
daShine against tho liGhthou AS in the
September fight. Beyond question this in
part is due to the fact that n large per-
centage of the migrants are making their
first long journey. Then, again. Septcn-
Der nights are inclined to he foSgy. Tho
result is that the glare of the big seacoast
beacons seemingly confuses the feathered
travellers, and thousands dash themselves
to death. From September ! to 10 many
soiourncrs of the summer will take their
departure for warmer chimes. The worm
eating warbler and the bluewinsed war
bier are among the first to depart,
With them will go the rough-wingod
swallow. the orchard oriole and the Ar
cadian fy-catcher. During these same
early days the black polled warbler, the
Connecticut warbler and the Lincoln spar
row are likely to arrive from the north,
tarrying briefly on their way south. Dur
ing the next 10 days we may say good
by to the purple martin, the Baltimore ORR
ole, the yellow breasted chat, and that
little nugget of living gold, the yellow
warbler. At this time in the low damp
meadows and marshes that erratic flyer
who Is at once a delight and an eXaSpor-
ton to the sportsman, Wilson's snipe, is
to be found. lie also is transient The
blue headed vereo the olive-basked thrush
and Bicknelrs thrush will also make a
heetng visit September $3.50 sees the de-
parture and arrival of many old acqualn-
| tances. The Louisiana water thrush, the
veery, the hooded warbler, that pleasant
little singer of warm July days the war