Middletown transcript., 1915-04-24
MANY BIRDS KILLED
The Little SOngsters Have Great
Difficulties in Making Flight
FOOD BRINGS THEM NORTH

FOOD BRINGS THEM NORTH
WASHINGTON, April 12th-The Gus
toms of migratory birds in North Amer
lea and the dangers which beset these
birds while going north each year are
told in bulletin just issued by the De.
partment of Agriculture, entitled
bird Migration. "
The bulletin comments on the fact
that although large numbers of birds
in North America go south for the win
ter months, there is no similar move
ment of land birds in South America,
due to the fact that the south temper
ate latitudes, on account of their small
area, offer no such inducements in the
matter of feeding as are offered in the
temperate areas in North America. If
the birds in North America did not go
south in the winter they would perish;
also if the birds remained in the south
during the summer there would be over
crowding. So they are drawn north
again in the summer by the enormous
summer supply of bird food.
During migration birds are pecu-
larly liable to destruction by striking
high Objects, says the bulletin. 1.-THE
Washington Monument, at the National
Capitol, has witnessed the death of
many little migrants; on single morn
ing in the spring of 1902 nearly $50 life
less bodies were strewn around its base.
AS long as the torch in the Statue of
Liberty in New York harbor was kept
lighted the sacrifice of bird life it caus-
ed was enormous, even reaching a
maximum of 700 birds in month.
ROUTES OF MIGRATION
"The fact that the routes of migra-
tion are long and complex does not
mean that these routes were so in the
beginning. In the early ages flight
was probably short, easily accomplish
ed and comparatively free from danger.
Each lengthening Of the course was
adopted permanently only after exper-
ience through many generations haC
proved its advantages.
There are some who argue that love
of birthplace is the impulse which
causes spring migration, and these cal
attention to the seeming impatience OF
the earliest arrivals. Ducks and geese
push northward with the beginning o1
open water so early, so far and so fas
that many are caught by late storm!
and wander disconsolately over frozeI
ponds and rivers, preferring to risl
starvation rather than to retreat. Tn
purple martins often arrive at thei
nesting boxes so prematurely that tn
cozy home becomes a tomb if sleet
storm sweeps their winged food iron
the air. The bluebird's cherry warbl
we welcome as a harbinger of sprin
i, often only to find later lifeless bod
i, in some shed or outbuilding, where tn
! bird sought shelter rather than retur
to The sunny land so recently left.
BREEDING INSTINCT GOVERNS RETUR
Gas matter of fact, however, onl
small percentage of birds eXhib
these preseasonal migration propens
ties. The great majority remain in tn
: security of their winter homes unit
: spring is far advanced that the iourne
a can be made easily and with compare
il lively slight danger, and they reach tn
II nesting spot when food supply is al
: sured and all the conditions of weathe
and vegetation are favorable for begil
: ming Immediately the rearing of
d family.
at may be safely stated that tt
d weather in the winter no IA Aas nothin
W to do with the starting blrds on tt
e sgring migration, except in the case
n few, like some of the ducks and gee:
y which press northward as fast as ope
I, water appears. There is no apprecab
l. change in temperature to warn Il
i hundred or more species of our bir
.e which visit South America in wint
that it is time to migrate, 1t must
s force from within a physiologic
m change warning them of the approa
in of the breeding season that impels the
|. to spread their wings for the long fligt
|. 1.-The habit of migration has be-
H. evolved through countless generation
L. and during this time the physical stru
ture and habits of birds have been u
re dergoing a process of evolution
to adoption to the climate of the SUNNI
n. home. In spring and early SUNNI
ne climate conditions are decidedly variat
he and yet there must be some period tn
has on the average the best wealth
for the birds arrival"