The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-02-24
THE MYSTERY OF
BIRD MIGRATION
HOW CAN BIRDS FLY THOUS.
ANDS OF MILES AT NIGHT
WITHOUT GUIDES?

Inst why small birds, when migrat-
mo congregate in large focks and
.-ooo through the woodlands has of
ten been the subject of speculation
1nncos. several species of sparrows,
y,oodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees,
rreeners and, above all, warblers, com
b;nq TO swell the ranks of these mi
oratjng companies, according to the
Rational Geographic Magazine.
As many as a dozen or more spe-
o;ss Of warblers may often be seen in
one flock which, in addition, may in
C1nde 200 or 800 individuals represent
inc a number Of families whose tastes
and habits in everyday life differ very
widely.
Yet here are these incongruous ele
ments mingling together on terms OF
the utmost friendliness.
Since birds are sociable beings, ex-
cent during the short time when fami
" cares prompt to jealous vigilance,
sociability alone may be the bond OF
rnion; added, however, to the kindly
feeling OF companionship probably is
feeling of increased security which
comes from numbers.
Certainly no enemy can approach
one of these bird assemblages without
being spied by at least one pair of
vjgilant eyes, when the flock is i'm
mediately notified by few sharp
cbjrps-warning for every individual
TO seek safety in flight or to scurry
to cover.
MYSTERIOUS Sense Guides.
In what manner warblers migrate
that is, how they are guided on their
long journeys-is a moot question.
Little mystery attaches to their abili-
ty to find their way north or south in
daylight, since the recognizable land
marks are many and prominent.
As most birds, especially the war
blers. choose starlight and moonlight
nights for their trips, perhaps they
are similarly guided by night, and
natural landmarks, as mountains, rlv-
ers and the coastline may point out
much. if not all, of their way.
However plausible this explanation
NAV sound in the case of birds mi
grating over land it utterly fails when
applied to migrants whose journeys
north and south necessitate flight over
long stretches of ocean, in some in
stances at least 1000 miles, quite out
OF land and of all landmarks.
Always a Great Study.
In seeking an explanation OF the
mystery of a birds abilityto to find
its way under such circumstances
many are inclined to reject the one
time sufficient answer, instinct" IN
favor OF the more recent theory, the
possession by birds OF another facul-
ty the so-called sense" OF direction.
This added sense enables birds to
return to a known locality with no
other aid than an ever present knowl-
edge of the right direction.
But. in the case of our wood war
blers. there is little need of appealing
to another sense Ito guide them in
migration or, indeed, to anything out
OF the ordinary save excellent mem
DRY and good eyesight.
The 500-mile flight toward the
tropics across the Gulf of Mexico IS
made by preference and, however it
originated as fly line, had it proved
to be extra hazardous it might have
been abandoned at any time in favor
OF the apparently safer West Indian
route
But, after all, the gulf trip involves
Jew hazards other than those connect
ed with storms since the flight across
the water, even at slow rate, would
necessitate a journey of less than "a
hours, and this, no doubt, is quite
within the capacity of even the small