The Cordova daily times., 1920-07-13
SEASONS ARE FORECAST BY
 WILD GEESE

expectantly by observing persons twice yearly, in early spring and in late fall The migration of wild geese is a seasonal event, not timed to conform to any particular date on the calendar, but unvaryingly recur- ring, apparently, with the approach of the distinct seasonal changes, as from winter to spring and from fall to winter again. Those persons who have for years been accustomed to adapt their programs of outdoor activities to conform somewhat strictly to the seasons are quite in- clined to disregard the almanac, the equinoctial changes, the direction of the wind, and even the forecasts of weather bureaus, and to watch, both spring and fall, for the first sign of migrating flocks of geese as the infa1lible precursors of definite clim- atic changes. Perhaps it has never been recorded that the geese have un- consciously misled those observers who rely upon them for faithful and impartial prognostications. Possibly mistake in Judgment" as to weather conditions in the immediate future, if such a mistake might in deed be traced to the leaders of the migratory flocks, would not be remem- bered against them. But the inference would be that mistakes are but in- frequently if at all, as full credence seems to be accorded to the implied warnings sounded by hte aerial trav- elers.
 Time was, perhaps before explorers had succeeded in reaching the very <top" of the world, when the state ment was made that no person had ever been so far north but that geese were frequently seen flying farther north than the point reached by the observers. Perhaps this could not be statement was never fully verified. But to the people of the more popu- 1ous sections of the north country it seems that the flight of the geese in spring is always farther northward. Their summer haunts have been dis covered, of course, that is to say, the
 nesting places of isolated colonies of geese, but these discoveries do not in any way account for the millions of birds which wing their way hun dreds of miles yearly toward the Arc tic seas, lakes and woods. @.
 This migration itself is unlike any movement to which it might be com pared. To naturalists and to friends of what is called wild life it is an institution, almost a ceremony. Of all the various species of migrating birds, the geese appear to be the only ones which approach the jour- ney from south to north or from north to south with studied so1emnity and almost ritualistic precision They do | usually understood but rather in platoons for each of which a leader and sentinels appear to have beenI chosen in. advance The flight is not a mad race, with the swifter birds vieing for the leadership. It is more like dignified march, with the beat or "step" of the wings keeping time to the measured "honk, honk!" of cap- tain or lieutenant At night, some | times, even in the heart of the larg- est cities, when the noises are some what subdued, there may be heard, | far overhead, the guttural "honk" of the flying geese. The call seems un- hurried and reassuring, and the lis tener feels confident, if he be soIi- citious, that all is we'll with the trav- e1ers. He knows, if he has seen the flccks in flight by day, exactly ii what formation the birds he hears are moving. If undisturbed and unafraid, | the time-hCnoTed tactics are being ob- | served. or this there Is no doubt, and l the listener reminiscently envisions l the V.shaped flock, undaunted, though l perhaps wing weary, picking iss cer- tain course through the darkness. l Perhaps when morning comes a se- cluded feeding ground may be order ed for rest. But if not, the steady l flight will be continued, possibly for days and nights without cessation Safe sanctuary is sought and in To- eating it the wise leader of the flock realizes that he must exercise at least as great sagacity as in forecasting the seasons
 Have you an old hat? Take it to PeySer and have if made Jika nav