Douglas Island news., 1907-03-06
The Birds of Alaska

In lSJJ MT. SQdTlSS INeeAel, uh' of the museum of the California Acad- emy of Sciences, San Francisco, visited Alaska, and to him is owed one of the best descriptions of the birds of Alaska that have yet appeared in print.
 Is the party of which MT. Keeler was a member proceeded up the inside passage" the bird-lovers of the number vera at first disappointed that SO lit tie evidence of biTi-life was visible when upon making a landing they found their way intc the forest retreats seemingly so we'll adapted to be the homes of birds. Says Mir. keeler; Silence reigued, broken now and then by the squeak of Harris's woodpecker or the short fine note of the piieated warbler. This frail, beautiful little creature with its fine golden plumage and black cap, it's dainty manners and sprightly song, was one of the few birds found in considerable numbers in the forests of the southern portions of the inland passages.
 The bird Hover goes on to state that the northwest crows and the ravens forced themselves upon attention from the beginning of the journey. Instead of finding the ravens shy and dwelling in remote and desolate places, it was discovered that in every Alaskan vil- lage these birds were as abundant and tame as domestic fowls in an Eastern barnyard. Mir. Keeler remarhs that "it is not strange that the raven has been held in superstitious reverence or fear among men of many races and In various parts of the world-that it has heer g theme for poets and a study for scientists as we'll as sacred being among the Thlingit Indians. In ap- pearance lC is wiser than an owl. It is more fall of strange antics than parrot and quite as talkatiye in its own peculiar vernacular. They spend mach time on the beaches where refuse Is plenty, and seem to lead happy, irde- pendent lives there, with little to worry them and much to make merry over. The raven is about two feet long and may be distinguished from the crow not only by it's much greater size, but also by the distinct and pointed effect of the feathers of the throat"
 The bald eagle was also encountered almost at the outset of the voyage and continued to be conspicuous element in the landscape all the way to Boring Sea. ''The adult, p9rched Tn the top ofa spruce or hemlock, it's white head con- trasting with the black of its body, makes striking picture and seems particularly in keeping with the grand eur of the scenery and the solitude of these wave-washed shores"
 Mr. Keeler's charming description of the hummingbird in Alaska has already been quoted in the Boston Alaskan. Steller's jay was Sound to be one of the characteristic birds of the forested coast regions of Alaska. "It is noisy and showy, constantly obtruding it's presence wherever the traveller may tarry, although it's marked preference for the vicinity of man was frequently noted. It is big crested jay with sooty black head and back, deep blue black barred wings and tail, and paler blue breast. He is rollicking fellow with loud voice, saucy manners, and eminently social habits"
 At Wrangell, birds were found to be more numerous than at any point the party had previously visited. h ad- 6ition to the species already named and which were here in abundance, there were found many well>known friends of southern attitudes. "Barn swallows fitted about with light, agile turns and fine, chattering cries quite as much at home in this historic Alaska hamlet as they are in the farmyards of Massachusetts and the ranches of Cali fornia. A few white breasted swallows sported over the house-tops, and the demure little Lincoln's finch was at home in the shrubbery He is a first cousin to the song sparrow-a common place appearing bird, brown and gray in color wi5h profuse. strsaaSirags above and below. He may be Distinguished from his nearest relations by tMe buff ground color of the breast uhet os the song sparrows being white Hsre also we caught our first glimpse of ths dwarf hermit thrush, and AearS Shs