Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-03-30
H. L. SNYDER, Publisher
NOTES BY OBSERVER.

s,,..or in to Shepherdstown it looks
a. If we are going TO have lot Of
sg-seahle company the coming sum
- The hickers have gotten here
a,s they seem anxious for everybody
- tnow that they are on hand. A
s,,r-y old veteran that has trick all
.Ehis own arrived last Saturday night
ant first thing Sunday morning he
gave notice of his presence. he took
e. rosition on the metal top to one
of the chimneys on the Episcopal
Church and drummed out the news.
with his strong bill he pounded on the
co,-.- until he had aroused the neigh
borIaot. then with a loud and cheer
SI song of flicker. flicker! flicker ="
h. cave greeting to all. He is look
,rr anc this spring with his grey and
aoI4 prumagc and that fetching spot
- r~;mson on the back of his head.
Ne drums his news every morning,
ros-Islv that some lady flicker may
hear and answer.
Observer has never seen so many
robins in town. They are here by the
buntreds. pert and familiar, and are
making themselves quite at home,
Than youl How welcome the robins
are, II is their delight to build their
nests close to the house and be as
comranonable as possible to their
human friends. Their song in the
srrinc morning and evening, is very
sweet and cheerful, and their graceful
movements and red breasts shining
in the sun are delightfully."- attractive.
II is the robin that Tennyson refers
10 in the line. '"The ttrush's even
song" Have you ever paid particu-
lar attention to this even song of the
gallant little bird? If you haven't, you
will enjoy a real treat when you hear
him singing from the very top Of
some tall tree before the evening
shadows fall. Sometimes it will bring
peace 10 a tired spirit or an aching
heart.
What wonderful instinct is it that
brings the robins straight back to
Sho0heristown from away down in
Southern Louisiana or the farthest
south in Florida? Is it Providence
that directs them through the trackless
air 10 the place where they were born ?
There can be no doubt that they do
come right back to the place from
which they started the autumn before.
This has been eXemplified here to bird
lovers over and over again. For four
or five successive years a robin with Pc
Culiar white markings was seen about
Sudlev Place markings that identi-
leave with the other birds of his kind
in the fall, and the next February
or March he would be seen again
about his old hauntS. A few years ago
a robin built her nest in a peculiar
place at Mr.. HartzelPs-between
window shutter and the weather board
ing of the house on his front porch,
II vas strange location for a birds
nest but she successfully raised her
brood there and left with the other
robins in the fall. Next spring she
came back and built again in the
same Place could there be any doubt
as to her IDENTIFY? Another rahin
nui!t her nest inside a small frame
building in Mr.. HartzelPs yard, lying
III II, ana out through an open window
me following spring the window was
Cl"Sed. incidentally, and Mr.. HartzeD
was puzzled to know why robin wa,
making such determined efforts to get
inside. She kept at the window for
SIYcI", I., when it flashed upon Mr..
Ia ..".' 'r0'i that II was the same robin
~" la ."L onilt there the previous year.
s ne opened the window, whereupon She
~" .S inside, took a look around, and
@ mln calmly proceeded to build her
4;s gt, IN me same place. Can it be
oLi,'Si mat when she left Louisiana
,o ,,e "il ner old home in Shepherds-
90 J." ln.ni, and that open window
,,-I I't H''le house in Mr.. HartzelPs
iomsaS ia was her objective in the long
,oT'ley ,,,,, ~ more than thousand
,ob;- yet acquainted with tho
Inns about Your house-be good to
,,, and YOU will find a lot Of pleas,
'' 'I'in their friendship.
Koa, ,nIPIe martins will soon be here.
y,;,I lour eyes open and see if thew
NJ A., A., up between the 10th and 18th
M 81; H. Ihey are the most regular
~ ~ a. .uT summer visitors in the time
1o,,. 'y. return. They winter awav
no., ~ III Central America and the
i've. i.' ''e,H Part of South America but
they s.ai sT' tHe same time every year
nieS. 'gSi the call to come north. and
IN ,3,: a''eT night they wing their way
route T.. 'IG homes, feeding along tho
will ~ aay. Week after next thev
scor.s -tcn Shepherdstown-a few
SOM preceding the main body--and
ter a,'j '.j.',,Iling ,l,g you will hear their chat
patir, ..uLoEihg out to see them investi-
II yo,. 'meIr r homes for the summer
be n.;oh,t me-; h%"nt the friendly martins to
the, 'SIoorS with you you must give
un Lo, Ln unmistakable invitationNset
in yon. 1Se ior them on top Of a pole
com yard or garden. Thev will
n i, :. " the house is to their liking.