The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-25
BIRDS SOUTHWARK BOUND
They Begin Their Twittering Migratory
Flight in September.

Flight 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 is the shrubbery filed with the
old friends whose acquaintance was
made early in the spring. In August
the search for bird life was ofttimes
most discouraging, and it would seem
that the feathered folk had deserted all
the dear old haunts. But In this month
behold the feathered hosts once more
The first cool weather brings wave OF
the little winged sprites, most OF them
being the warblers. They are on their
way South now, and to the amateur the
new dresses of many Of them make re-
cognition a bit difficult a greater num-
Der are young birds which have not-yet
attained the plumage of maturity. Then.
too. many of the adult birds have donned
their travelling gowns. which are much
soberer than the gorgeous dress of the
nuptial season. The spring songs are
lacking now. but the familiar twitterings
and characteristic notes are to be heard
wherever the birds are found. The fall
flight is in reality one of the most inter
esting phases of bird study. He who
would know his feathered friends, tho
roughly must be abroad with note book
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 mi
| grafton. as if they varied their routes Of
| travel between the limits of their habi-
| tat Those who dwell along the sea-
coast have an opportunity of studying
| a phase Of bird life, the tragedy of mi
| grafton, which those farther inland
| know nothing of. At no season of the
| year do so many of the feathered folk
| come to untimely death by iashing
against the lighthouses as in the septen-
| Der flight. Beyond question this in part
| is due to the fact that a large percentage
| Of the migrants arc making their first
| long journey. Then, again. September
| nights are inclined TO be foggy The re-
! suit is that the glare of the big seasoast
beacons seemingly confuse the feathered
| travellers. and thousands dash themselves
| to death. From September 1st to 10Th,
| many sojourners of the summer will take
| their departure for warmer chimes. The
| worm-eating warbler and the blue-wing-
ed warbler are among the first to de
| part.
| With them will so the rough-winGed
| swallow, the orchard oriole and the Ar
| cadian fly catcher. During these same
! early days the black-pooled warbler. the
| Connecticut warbler and the Lincoln
| sparrows are liable to arrive from the
| North, tarrying briefly on their way
| South. During the next ten days We
| may say goodbye to the purple martin.
| the Baltimore oriole, 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 a t once Il de-
| light and an evaporation to the sports
| man. Wilson's snipe, is to be found. He
| also is transient. The blue-headed
| vireo. the oive-backed thrush and Bick-
| nell's thrush will also make tleetlng
| visit. September 20th-30th sees the de-
| parture and arrival of many old acquaint-
| ances The Louisiana water thrush. the
very, the hooded warbler. that pleasant
| little singer of warm July days, the
| warbline vreo the wood pewee. the rose
| breasted EroabeaK, the yellow-throated
vireo the king bird. the crested fly
catcher, the humming bird the little
| green heron and the common tern, all
depart for distant lands. At the same
| time little woodland ponds and quiet wa
tiers become tenanted by those marvellous
lv swift yet dirninutive ducks, the green
winged and blue-winged teal.
The American coot will also be found
in the sedges. All three Of these are but
sojourners for Week or two. The
golden crowned kinglet and the lunco
| come down from the north to spend the
winter In certain sections the winter
wren also comes TO take up his abode
The yellow palm warbler, the myrtle
warbler, the white-crowned sparrow, the
white throated sparrow and the ruby
crowned kinslet also come from the
northern districts and later viii seek a
more southern latitude Along the sea
coast the great broad-winged herring gull
arrives to spend the winter. All through
the month the various waders, such as
the sandpipers. the plover. the curlew and
vellow-legs. come down in great flocks
along the salt marshes. travelling to the
South The flight of these birds is
usually heaviest in the early part of the
month and by the end of the month only
a few belated stragglersa are to be seen
The forerunners of the great web-foot
tribe gein to arrive, but the main flight
will not be for some weeks yet Thus
il is that the bird-student who would
keen in touch with the feather world
finds his hours afleld in September are
all too short-Country Life in America
Girl Falls Fifty Feet.