The National tribune., 1902-09-18
The Great Flight southward-The Autumn
Passing of the Birds.
Country Life in America

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 discour-
aging, and it would seem that the feather
ed folk had deserted all the dear old
haunts. But in this month behold the
feathered hosts once more! The first cool
weather brings awave Of the little winged
sprites, most of them being the warblers.
They are on theIt way South now, and
to the amateur the new dresses of many
of them make rttognition a bit difficult.
A greater nIifilbeia are young birds which
have not yet attained the plumage of ma
turity. Then, Ito, many of the adult
birds have dohned their travelling gowns,
which are much sdberer than the gorgeous
dress of the hpptial season.
The Spring Songs are lacking now, but
the familiar twittering and characteristic
are found. Thel Fail 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
notebook and pencil daily, for many of
the birds tar'fy 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 habitat.
Those who dwell along the seacoast have
an opportunity of studying q phase of
bird-life, the tragedy of migration, 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
dashing against the lighthouses as in the
obi tc
in part due to the fact that large per-
centage Of the migrants are making their
first long journey. Then again, September
nights are inclined to be foggy. The re-
suit is that the glare of the big seacoast
heacons seemingly c0nfuses the feathered
travellers, and thousands dash themselves
to death.
From September 1 to 10 many sojourn-
ers of the Summer will take their depart
ure 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 Acadian fycatcher. During
these same early days the black-pOlled
warbler, the Connecticut warbler and the
Lincoln sparrow are likely to arrive from
the North, tarrying briefly on their way
South.
During the next 10 days we may say
good-by to the purple martin, the Balti-
more Oriole, the yellow-breasted chat, and
that little nugget of living gold. the yell
low warbler.
At this time in the low, damp meadows
and marshes that erratic flyer who is at
once a delight and an evaporation to the
sportsman, Wilson's snipe, is to be found
He also is a transient. The blue-hcaded
vireo, the backed thrush and Bick-
nel's thrush will also make n fleeting Wis
it. September 900 sees the departure
and arrival of many old acquaintances.
The Louisiana water-thrush, the veery,
the hooded warbler, that pleasant little
singer of warm July days; the warbling
vireo, the wood pewee, the rose-breasted
grosbeak, the yellow-throated vireo the
kingbird, the crested fycatcher, the hum
ming bird, the little green heron and the
tern all depart for distant lands
At the same time little woodland ponds
and quiet waters become tenanted by those
swift yet diminutive ducks, |
the green-winged and the blue-winged teal.
The American coot will also be found in the
sedges. All three of these are but sojourners |
fora week or two. The golden-crowned king |
let and the juncO 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 war
bier, the myrtle warbler, the white
crowned SPARROW, the white -throated spar
row and thet ruby-crowned kinglet also
come from the, Northern districts, and
ater will seek a more Southern latitude.
Along tho saacoast the great broad
winged herritg-gull arrives to spend the
Winter. All through the month the vari-
ous waders, such as the sandpipers, the
Dlover, the cnrlew and the yellow-legs,
come down in great focks along the salt
marshes, traYelipg to the South. The
light of these birds is usually heaviest
N the early Part Of the month, and by the
md only few, belated stragglers are to
ne seen. The forerunners of the great
tribe, begin to arrive, but the
main flight Yillop be for some weeks
yet. il,