The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-07-08
BIRDS IN BIG CITY.
Chicago Is Regular Migrating
Point for Feathered Tribe.
Henry oidys, Assistant Biologist 81
United States Biological Survey,
Delivers Lecture Before
Audubon Society.

Chicago. Birds flock to Chicago the
same as Chicagoans flock to Europe.
This city is regular migrating point
for the feathersd creatures. and for
a number Of reasons. Pre-eminent
among them Is the fact that the Mis-
sissipDi valley is the regular route Of
migration Of all birds coming from the
south TO the colder climes OF the north.
land Flying far above Chicago during
the night. the vast glare Of thousands
Z OF electric lights attracts them They
alight IN Washington park, Lincoln
park or some other alluring spot, and
al once begin their semi-annual work
OF BODYBUILDING
Henry Oldys. assistant biologist OF
the United States biological survey,
/ delivered lecture on birds and bird
music before the members Of the III
nois Audubon society at the Academy
Of Sciences il ilnleoln park In the
course Of his dissertation upon the
subject he made remarks Of which the
foregoing paragraph is only a brief
summary.
Chicago is an ideal place for birds,
Mr. 0ldys declared, for It Is directly
in the path Of their flight north and
south The Mississippi valley IS
known as the bird route you know.
The fact that Chicago is Chicago that
II is city stretching miles one way
and miles IN other ways and that ii
has thousands and thousands OF cleo
trio lights glaring at night. make il
one Of the largest towns speaking ~
terms OF bird habitation, in the coun
try
And II II were not for the fact that
there is 50 much smoke hanging over
Chicago" Mr.. Oldys declared. Ia CON
menting upon his talk delivered before
the society, there would be many
more birds here. OF course. the 1T
tie creatures will shun smoke, as a
human being will. Can you blame
them2"
Birds are attracted TO a city IN a
strange manner" MI Oldys went on.
AT night they are drawn by the glare
OF the lights, as have explained. and
IN the daytime they are lHred by tall
spires Lighthouses are especially at
tractiye to them and many OF the lit.
tie animals meet their death each
year by showing too much curiosity
and flying against the framework Or
panes Of the lamps
"Of my own knowledge can speak
Of one bright morning where the sun
anal hoHfoo oF 1E0 cfrdu atara ,.golyna
up from the base Of the Washington
monument in Washington. On an av-
erage of seven hundred a month die
by flying against the statute Of Lib
erty In New York harbor."
Another interesting observation
made by Mr. Oldys was the effect Of
weather upon birds. He declared that
a bright day and lots Of sunshine sent
the little warblers high TO the topmost
branch OF the tallest trees in the
neighborhood, while on day rainy
and cloudy. the songsters stayed III
the lowest limbs or often ran about
on the ground
Put a birdhouse in your backyard"
urged the speaker. If you do you1l
have some wrens or some swallows
living in It within day or two. and
III warrant that you will be repaid
for the trouble you took BY the pleas
lre you'l derive from watching the
little creatures.
Commenting upon the voices Of the
various birds. Mr. Oldys made the dec
aration that In many instances the
voice OF the human musician and the
voice Of the feathered singer showed
/ remarkable similarity
Especially Is this true in the case
II the thrush he declared. Il have
leard them combine notes into com.
,lete melodic phrases as beautiful and
IS perfect as any phrase ever uttered
y the highest.Daid opera singer"