Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-06-29

Just a low. rocky ledge where birds
nest so thick that It is difficult to
step among their ncsts without break
ing their eggs. The run is SO miles
from Soltair across the lake, and 10
undertake IT one should be prepared
to stay where calm overtakes him.
OF run for cover in case of storm,
foi the course Hes directly across the
deep lake channel where the wind
has It's freest sweep. There is no
water of any depth west of Hat, or
south OF Stunsbury for that matter,
and two years ago these almost ceased
to be islands. and Instead became
part OF the shore line.
PUGNACIoUS LoOTERs.
The bird families Of Hat 'sland
do not dwell in peace. Tor YOU find the
pfcan protecting his nest constantly.
from the gulls like the frontiersman
would protect his cabin from Indian
raids. Gulls are as fond OF eggs as
the pelican is of fish. and during tho
nesting season it Is a constant fight
between these Two classes of inhabit-
ants, tho pelicans seeking to hide up
their nests, and then remaining close
by in case OF fight 10 protect them.
and tho gulls seeking chance to
steal from the pelican pantry, de-
licious morsel of a meal, instead OF
having to fly away over to Farming
ton IN search of worms. On Hat the
population census develops about
1000 families of gulls. 500 of pelicans
and 90 of the reroHs. Utah gulls by
the way. would know the title If YOU
called them Californians, for the city
never knows of their comings and
goings with the seasons. This is be-
cause they journey westward in the
fall, over the Sierras. and hold winter
conferences like their migrating hu-
man relatives. along the ocean shore.
and at the big bays whore water fowl
love 10 sun themselves through the
winter months. The Utah gulls are n
sub-species of the California gulls ana
ore unlike any others found in the
worlds waters.
GREAT BIRD CITY.
Gunnson island is thu largest rook-
- AAN'P 10 Nutlt lilt great DlTl"
city is established. and where the
main body makes its resting place,
and heads when in fight but on Egg
island, lying away to the north there
Is another city, off Ogden, that is oc
some importance. The island is "A reet
of rocks off Antelope and the great
blue heron find it n favorite nesting
place from the fact that it is near to
the river mouths where fishing >
attractive. Here. too. lives the other
fish eater, the cormorant. flthiest of
all birds except perhaps the vultura
and the buzzar1. As a mother bird
left her nest the eggs could not be
seen for insect life that swarmed over
them, and when the young first an
pear they look like little balls of tar
rolled up and left TO melt. There Is
not trace Of feathering. but Just
close black hair which make them
anything but bird-like In appear
ance.
BIRD POPULATION
Out in the lake. then. me- bird
population is made up of four varie-
ties, the great blue heron long legged
fisherman, and poor flier. the pelican
with fish basket for a mouth, the
gulls which are near cousins to the
California gulls, and are not en- ocean
going bird, the double crested song
birds that have found refuge on
Antelope from the small boy and tho
advancing march of civilization.
That lake traffic will ever be heavy
enough TO MODEST them over there is
very doubtful, but in the great
stretch of water lying south of Prom
ontory, from Bear River bay to Salt
air via White Rock. there are sail
ing possibilities that have mover been
developed In the slightest, and that
offer great attractions 10 the Yacht
builders who may be expected TO de-
Velop within the next decade.