Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06
The Four Brothers in Middle of
Lake Champlain.
Annual Breeding Place OF Immune rnbie
sea Gulls, wild Ducks. Ssndpipcrs.
Sen Martins, and CIiH SwaI-
lows.
(From the New York Evening Post.)

situated near the middle of Lake Cham
plain
These islands arc, and have been from
tino mmemorial the annual breeding
place OF nnumerohlo SEA gulls. wild
ducks. sandpipers, sea martins, cliff swat
lows. goldfnches, and other water fowl
and wood birds. The islands are the
property OF Edward Hatch, Jr.. OF Now
York city, and are also under the pro
icctng wings of the National Association
OF Audubon societies, with headquarters
In New York. They are OF volcanic or
igin. and are surrounded by precipitous
cliffs OF rock. with two small gravel bars
to each island. They average from four
30 eight acres each In area, and rise
from twelve to twenty feet above the
normal level of the lake, one having
cliffs which rise sheer thirtv ieet out
o. deep water. The islands are cover
ed with trees OF different varietiea--
yak birch, hutternut, buJtonwood. elm
Arbor Wit Qocally called white
redar), and pine. besides various
kinds Of shrubs. Two have each a
natural meadow OF luSuriant grass
while the other two--there Is no small
hrothe~'' in the family---nre encircled
by high. teep cliffs, ana their tops
are cover with dense tnic cts OF
trees. shrubs. brush. and vines.
This group is located some eight miles
northeast OF Marlborough, n. Y, and
about ten miles southwest OF Burlington.
Vt. At a distance with their re- .nparts
% stone, they look Ike buttressed fort
lesses on the seacoast. To the westward
the towering Adrondacks of New York
a OF q
while to the east, across intervening
towns, are continuous ranges OF the
Green Mountains OF Vermont. To the
south the horizon has a grim background
OF mountains, but to the north tho lake
stretches away as far as the eve can
reach.
In a white cottage perched on cliff
overlooking the lake. with one room and
o loft, one door. two windows. and a
cooking-stove have lived alone for FIVE
months. with none to modest OF make
me afraid"
THE LARGEST OF GULLS.
All of the gulls breeding on the islands
are Of the herring or harbor variety, the
largest Of the gull family. Some Of the
larges ones apparently have a full four
foot spread Of wings from tip to tip. They
are Of a sociable disposition, and this
season there have been two colonies on
each island. choosing the highest AMI
most exposed cliffs for roosting PAGES at
night. and congregating there during the
latter part of the day. They are vigi-
liant and give the alarm instantly on the
approach OF person or a boat. or the APP
pearance OF crows.
crows are the only enemies OF the
birds. and they are not residents but
narauders from the mainland. At the
first sign OF crows the guls rise. utter
ing cries to drive the intruders away.
Only once have | seen the gulls attack
crow or fight at close quarters. ON that
occasion discovered the two engaged in
a fierce fight some 100 feet up in the air,
and when l shot the gentleman in
black" the gull followed the falling body
TO the ground. probably thinking that he
lad killed his foe, and wishing 10 make
fure Of the tot.
The gulls, especially on my home island.
rarely exhibited alarm when I made my
rounds. As matter Of course | was
careful not to frghten or disturb them
unnecessarily. One pair. which nested
some fifty or sixty feet from my door.
were quite tame and would allow NE 20
wing. hut there was an old patriarch a
sttle farther away WHO was always on
leck and full of HEht
FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER.
Tho season begins the 1st Of May and
nlds the iattcr part ct September. aud
turing this time the grown Euls plum
ise is pearl gray above. with white wings
Tipped with black. and breast ard belly
, brilliant silver white. The gulls swim
gracefully, though not fast, but they
DON'T dive. because they are mainly wings
r tn very iit,lo BODY, or. as Oliver Wen
,cll Holm.. pet 1t, less feslied than
i~athered." They spend a great deal or
tine on tho wat :, and during the day.
WREN not swimming or on the wing, they
8 ather in groups on exposed cliffs or high
points. apparently III consultation.
| found a few cgPs at the beginning
of the season. ana then continuously
until the nth OF July. after which time
no eggs We're laid. The gulls com-1cnc-
% to leave the islands in August when
those Matched earliest were able to sus-
tain long flights, and their number grad
raily decreased until on September 80
there Is scarcely moro than a corporars
guard. though few could be expected
to finger until Christmas. 1t Is said that
tho same old birds return each year. while
the season's hatch hunt homes elsewhere
How that is I don't know, but ! would
know my old ft,hting patriarch and my
"house" friends were to see them here
again.
NEST A PRIMITIVE AFFAIR
The sengull's nest is q primitive affair.
being nothing more than n few twigs
and leaves and little grass or moss
with q depression in tho certre 10 hold
the eggs. They arc always built In the
ppen-on rocks. the bare ground, or on
Eravel bars-without any attempt at con-
.ealrent or shelter, for owing to It's
treat spread OF wings the gull must have
1 clear landing place on returning homo
with a cargo Of family supplies.
Ono mother gull built her nest on n
utting ledge on the face OF a cliff some
fifteen feet from its base: there three
,estlings were Matched and there they
Eere held prisoners from birth until they
rev themselves wings and could ny.
rhe eggs are nearly the size anu shape
II a turkeys and are of different colors.
those on these islands being usually OF
! dark greenish-brown with large irreg-
plar splotches of black or deep choco-
late. The gull lays three eggs and the
period of incubation In nearly three
weeks: the parent birds take turn about
n setting.
When frst Matched. the young gull is a
luffy ball of gray down. hecked and spot
led with black. which suit he wears for
lhree or four weeks and then changes
10 q speckled suit Of darker feathers when