The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-11-14
When she Birds Return In the Fall
Migration Coming In Fioeks.
Acountry Where the Northern Visitor
Finds Things Done In Ways
That Are Strange to Him,
But Interesting.

OF life In the Caroifnas is the com
ing Of autumn, which is not only a
period of delightful weather. but is
MISC associated with some OF tie
things that strike the Northerner as
unusual.
One Of the most novel things is the
return OF the birds. At the North we
yn,kfo the birds in the spring. In the
South We look for them in the spring
mud again In the fall Sunday morning
was one of those perfect days that are
common In the South in the fall. 1t
vas melfower than the Indian sum.
Wer of the North, with a sort of fresh
odor ana feeling in the air. The trees
eave begun to take on their autumn
color and whole forests show the
brilliant hues on the blackjacks, the
gum trees and the swamp populars.
Tie gentians are blossomfng in pro-
fusion over the hills. The wild asters
are abundant. Fall flowers are every.
where.
On Sunday looked out of the wiz.
dow in the early morning. The sun
{ was Just coming over the eastern hill.
Al was fresh and crisp. A chatter
ms in the garden attracted my atten-
ton, and a glance in that direction
showed a flock Of the woodpeckers
Known as the flicker. On the ground
On the fence, flying from the trees in
the nefghborhood, and chatteriry
everywhere were groups of these
noisy birds. In the North the nicker
Is rather solitary bird. Here at this
season he Is gregarious. 1t is his mt
Eratory season. He has been North,
rnd, like wise bird, he has tired of
the early frosts and started on his
z way toward the perpetual summer. He
comes southwark in the fall in large
!. Hooks, and stays as long in any place
as his fancy may prompt him. His
summer work is ended. He has reared
Ills family, and the present is his our.
ing season. He travels as leisurely
as he feels inclined, with nothing to
worry him except the hostility of the
-est of creation and the trouble o.
catching up with his dinner, the latter
being not difficult task, for the trees
have housed innumerabte bugs and
worms that have crawled away for
tie winter. So Mr.. Flicker dimes right
well.
On Sunday saw the first bunch of
Elackbfrds that have noticed this fall.
They were flying up in swamp below
he garden. as active and enthusiastic
1s the fiickers, although not so many.
Blackbirds. like the fickers, com
through here on their way North in
+ the spring, and stop again on their
way South in the winter, which is on
almost as soon as the Southern migra-
tior has finished. Fo- thar matter,
\ some of the migrations appear to end
In about this latitude. In January. 1t
i II not an uncommon sight to discover
ntcks OF bluebirds, dozens in num-
Der, feeding on the fence rows, and
az CHEEKY and musical as they can
DC in the North in May. They ap.
pear at such times and in such mum.
hers as to indicate that they are tour
lists from some directions. but whether
From the North or the South have
not yet been able to determine. ALL
through the spring the bluebirds
continue abundant, until at length
shey leave for the North, and then
NO more are seen until fall brings
them this way on their return migra.
ton.
The robins have commenced to re-
turn again. Probably the robin comes
d larger aocks in the fan than any