Waterbury Democrat., 1902-09-23
THE RETURN or THE BIRDS.
U They Begin Their Twittering Flight Southward in September.

ss
 They Begin Their Twittering Flight
 Southward in September.
 For the lover of birds September Is month in which every k.sur at the desk or in the office is sorely be- grudged. Once again is the shrubbery filled with the old friends whose ac- quaintance was made early in the spring. In August the search for bird life was oftimes most discouragNg, 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 q wave of the r4- tie 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 recognition q bit difficult. A greater number are young birds which have not yet attained the plumage of matur- lty. 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 lackipg now, but the familiar twitterings and character istic notes are to be heard wherever the birds are found. The fall flight is in reality one of the most interesting phases of bird study He who would know his feathered friends thoroughly must. be abroad with note book and pencil daily for many of the birds tar ry but for day or two on their way south.
 Species which were by no means common in the spring will often be seen in unexpected numbers during the fall migration as if they varied their routes Of travel between the limits of their habitat. Those who dwell along the seac0ast have an opportunity of studying phase of bird life, the trag edy of migration, which those further inland know nothing of. At no season of the year do so many of the feath- cred folk come to untimely death by dashing against the lighthouses as in the September flight. Beyond question this in part Is due to the fact that large percentage of the migrants are making their first long 1 journey. Then, again September nights are inclined to be foggy. The coast beacons seemingly confuse the i feathered travellers, and thousands dash themselves to death. From Sep tember 1 to 10 many sojourners of the summer will take their departure for warmer climes The worm eating warbler and the blue-winged warbler are among the first to depart.
 With them will go the rough winged swallow, the orchard oriole and the i Arcadian fly catcher During these same early days the black-polled warbler the Connecticut warbler and the Lincoln sparrow are likely to ar- rive from the north, tarrying briefly on their way south. During the next ten days we may say go6dby to the purple martin, the Baltimore oriole. l the yellow-breasted chat, and that lit- tie nugget of living gold, the yellow l warbler. All this. time, in the low. damp meadows and marshes. that er- ratio flyer who is at once n delight and an exasperation to the sportman. Nil- sons snipe, Is to be found. He also is transient. The blue-headed yi,ao. the olive-backed thrush, and Bickne1J's thrush will also make a feeting visit. September 20-30y sees the departure and arrival of many old acquaintances. The Louisiana water-thrush, the veery, the hooded warbler, that pleasant little Esinger of warm July days, the warb- ling vireo, the wood pewee, the rose breasted grosbeak, the yellow-throat- ed vireo, the kingbird the crested f1y 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 waters become tenanted by those marvelously swift yet diminutiye i 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 n week or two. The golden crowned kinglet and the junco come down from the north to spend the writer In l certain sections the winter wren also I 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 kinglet also come from the northern districts, and later will seek q more southern latitude Along the seacoast the great broad-winged I-herring-gull arrives to spend the win ter. All through the month the yari- ous Waders, such as the sandpipers the blower, the curlew and the yellow legs come down in great hocks 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 few belated stragglers are to be I seen. The forerunneIs of the great web-footed tribe begin to arrive, but I the main flight will not be for some 1 weeks yet. Thus 1t is that the bird
 student who would keep in touch with the feathered world will find his hours afield ill September are all too short. |