The Citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1903-1912, 1912-08-31
Man and
the Bird


Mans conquest OF space by heavier
than-air machines and his difficulties
in controlling his mechanisms In vary
ing currents and eddies have natural
" aroused interest In the doings OF
his most easily.studied prototypes
| the birds Although a bird Is far bet
ter equipped than n man. even In the
most perfect and powerful flying ma
chine yet invented. to cope with swirl
ing gusts and sudden blasts. few feath-
cred creatures care to fly during
storm
Drexel SAYS: "The aeroplane has its
limitations. and they are 80 far very
narrow ones" IL this be true Of the
mechanical power, what Of the guild
ing intelligence behind It? writes
Richard Kearton in The Sphere. Man
has TO conceive situation and com
munlcate his will through his limbs
to his mechanism, whereas bird In
stinctively throws its will into It's
wings and tail which ia much short
err path to results.
Now let us glance for moment at
the relative speeds OF mental percep-
ton In n man and bird. For long
series OF years I have undergone n
severe training In quick mental per-
ception and at the crucial moment
setting rapidly-enswering mechanical
contrivances In motion. and have no
hesitation in stating that the powers
Of the most alert human being when
compared with those OF bird are as
the speed OF snail to that OF Derby
winner Some idea OF birds mar
velous rapidity OF perception and re-
. sultant action may be gained when
state that | have exposed dozens OF
Photographic plates with my focal
plane index showing that | was work.
ing nj n speed OF the 200th part OF
second before I secured a picture Of
crested tit on a branch near Its nest
Ing hole Even In such short space
OF time the bird was able to conceive
the sound and set It's wings In motion
before the shutter OF the camera
closed.
No Flights In Rough Weather.
Now II such a wonderfully-equipped
creature ns n bird finds difficulty I'm
flying In strong currents and eddies.
how much greater must these same
difficulties be for the airman. Every
body has seen large focks OF starlipgs
going through their astonishing aerial
evolutions before retiring to rest for
the night and marveled mt the skill
with which they avoided collidinR
with each other whilst wheeling.
twisting and swooping. This Illus
trates the extreme rapidity OF their
mental perception and its translation
into action. but in spite Of these very
useful qualifications the birds do not
risk rucb exhibition disnlays- Of -nlGhi
during very stormy weather. Mem
bers OF a pack OF grouse. flushed dur
ing n gale OF wind have been known
to collide and kill each other In mid
air.
remember on one occasion putting
grouse up near to n stone wall dur
ing very gusty weather. The bird
had not proceeded far before II was
caught by terrific side blast and
hurled against the wall. Falling Ia
the ground II rose again. but instead or
attempting to continue It's flight par
allel with the fence. took a course ut
right angles TO II. and by a series OF
vigorous wing beats forced It's way
straight up into the eye OF the wind.
and then. turning right around, sailed
away over the wall on outstretched
wings Grouse. like seagulls. appear
. to be able to read the signs OF com
, ing storm. and frequently seek shell
ter before tho breaking OF the blast.
. | have known them to leave the er'
posed hilltops and descend even "a
the meadows right at the bottom OF
n Yorkshire dale before the oncoming
OF an exceptionally heavy gale accom-
panied by hail and rain.
island Birds In q Hurricane.
Some years ago whilst In the outer
Hebrides noticed thousands OF sea
gulls OF different species sitting quite
still In pasture close to the Atlantic
Every head was turned toward the sea
from which a moderate breeze wal
blowing BY the middle OF the after
noon the wind had increased TO such
hurricane force that pieces OF foam
as large as a mans head were being
carried from the beach quarter OF 4
mile inland, and not bird OF am
A kind was to be seen on the wing. Anx
!" ious to SEQ how my feathered friend,
were faring during such exceptiona
weather struggled forth, sometimes
progressing on my feet. and at others
I'm in exposed places, on my hands anC
ny knees. ! found common terms shel
ur tering behind bouldors at a consider
lis able distance from the shore. Arriy
up ing at a vertical hole some 10 feet In
ng diameter and 30 feet In depth In the
'ol roof OF long sea cave. ! was astonish
uf' ed TO discover peregrine falcon sit
ng ting In the company OF about 40 rooi
Ise doves. The storm had actually made
,ut tho lion lie down with the lambs
i'd There was great clatter OF wings al
no. the terrified birds rose from thei
'as place OF shelter Tho peregrlne wal
carried down wind like piece OF IA
ar per and soon disappeared from sight
I'D but the pigeons battled on their stronl
in. wings until ! had retreated a litth