Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-01-27
Our Birds in January.

In the January number OF me west VIZ
ginia School Journal, published atCharles-
ton, under the title OF "The Birds OF jan
uary," Rev. Earl A. Brooks, OF Weston,
w. Va, contributes the following inter
eSiing and valuable article on our winged
songsters, thatis worthy not only otread-
ing and careful thought. but preservation
for reference in after years-it is story
gem on the life uf our smaller feathered
wild fowl:
From month 10 month our bird life va
ries in an interesting, kaleidoscope FASH
ion. AT some seasons the birds are ju-
bilant in song, while at other times they
are silent in some months the migration
wanderlust seems 10 be uppemost in
their instincts. while in others the birds
are settled and steadfast in the duties OF
home and habitat; in the late spring and
early summer months most birds are CIV
ing lltheir time and their wonderful pow
ers OF endurance to carrying out that COM
mand OF nature and OF God, "Be fruitful,
and multiply, and fill the waters in the
seas, and LEI birds multiply on the earth,'
while at other seasons each bird goes its
way with self-interest and in selt-pro-
lection. Each month presents some new
problem in bird life. and each season
brings its new species from north or south,
its stragglers from tar away, its rare breed
erS, or its unsolved questionsi in ornitholo-
gY. II is the purpose OF this series OF pa
pers 10 give some OF the interesting facts
oil bird life in sort OF calendar fashion.
that those who teach and those who study
may have some suggestions in the sea-
soual studies OF the birds.
Cold January comes first. The casual
observer would not expect TO find many
living things in that month OF snow, yet
one can go out on cold morning in jan
uary and find evidences that many living
things have been abroad by day and in
the night. Here are some pellets elected
from the tllroai OF a Barred Owl; here
are the dainty tracks OF flock OF Bob
whites in the snow; along the old fence
row are the scattered halls OF weed seeds
on which numbers OF Juncos and Tree
Sparows have been feeding by The side
OF an old stump or decayed tree are the
chips of that carpenter OF the woods, The
Woodpecker, that have been dropped by
a Downy, Hairy or a great Northern
Pileated, as he has chiseled away dill
gently for some lurking larva OF a wood
boring beetle; in the edge OF The woods
is the story OF nocturnal tragedy plainly
written in the srow. for here Great
Horned Owl has Nou7ced upon Mearn's
Cotton-taiI (our common rabbit and has
destroyed his life and feasted on his flesh;
here are the roosting- places OF a small
company OF Ruifed Grouse. and there, in
the dry snow, are the wing marks OF a
bird that has suddenly taken flight. On
every hand are the signs OF life, and one
does not need TO 90 far, il his eyes are
keen, without finding many evidences OF
the fact that many birds may be found
even in January.
II may be we'll 10 mention some oil our
winter species. though only few OF the
large number OF winter resident birds can
be named here. A number Of Wood
peckers stay with us during the cold days
OF the year. and January walk will dis
close the whereabouts OF many OF them.
Feeding as they do on larvae and on the
eggs and adults OF various insects that
remain about the bark and wood OF trees,
the food supply is abundant all the win
ter long. In company with the Wood
peckers may be found the Whitebreasted
Nuthatch, often called "Sapsucker," and,
rarely, his dainty cousin, the Redbreasted
Nuihatch. The latter is bird OF the
north and is found in The bill region OF
the State only in migration or in the win
ter, though high in the Allegheny noun
tains this species occssionlly breeds. In
company with these birds may be found
the elusive Brown Creeper, crawling in
mouse-like fashion up the tree trunks, the
Carolina Chickadee and his mountain
congener, the Chickadee. The Tufted
Titmouse and few other species fall into
the same flock, and, together with the
Golden-crested Kinglet, form lively
company as they fly from limb TO limb
among the forest trees.
Along our larger rivers an occasional
waterfowl may be seen, though most OF
them are far TO the south during January.
The Looms. Piel-biIIed Grebes, MsIlards,
Herring Gulls and few Of the other
harder species may be seen even in mid
winter.
About our city and village streets and
around our dwellings may be found the
Carolina Wren, and his very diminutiye
and highly musical relative, The Winter
Wren, though this last species Is not Of
ten observed except by those who keep
a very sharp outlook for the birds. Very
often, within The past five years, have
seen Winter Wrens about some OF our
towns and have heard them singing with
all that wild abandon that charscterizes
their songs in the deep spruce forests Of
their native summer home. The Cafdi-
mails are not at all wild in the deep winter,
and often come about our homes and feed
on any sort OF grain or seeds that they
may gather there. The Tuted TItmice
are rather friendly at This season OF the
year and come in small companies 70 eat
the nuts that are placed on the birds
feeding table or TO gather beechDuts or
other nuts that nature has scattered for
them. Because the Tnfted Titmouse re-
spends so readily TO every ray OF sun
shine that comes out from the January