The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-02-22
Lost Beauty

Throughout the early winter
large, handsome bird with roseate
underwings- came with swift bound
ing flight to a Virginia creeper vine
that clings to large fir tree near
our house. Here he Cleaned its small
hard, black berries that hung in
scattered clusters.
The bird was a red-shafted flick
er. one of the very useful wood
pecker family, and one of the most
beautiful birds of the West. During
the autumn we had heard his glad
calling, and later had often seen
him come bounding down to dine
and enjoyed the remarkable beauty
and grace of his strong flight as
we'll as that of his barred black,
gray-broWn, and rose-red plumage.
As winter wore on. at times as
we observed him closely he often
seemed unstable in his hold upon
the creeper vine and it was apbar-
ent he was having difficulty in Sc
curing food. We always keep feed
out for the birds in winter and in
creased the food flickers like best;
but even though it was freezing
Wintry weather he was, like all his
kind, most shy about coming to the
feeding tables We often watched
for him when sitting by the win
dow, and one evening just before
the last snow storm he came to the
cotoneaster bushes around the
porch and began eating their dry,
shrivelled berries.
His blithe, proud strength was
gone. He seemed weak and starved.
1t appeared difficult for him to
maintain his balance and keep his
hold on the small, crowded limbs.
He climbed mostly with his wings
that were worn and frayed. His
plumage had lost much of its gloss
and the lovely coloring was dulled.
We could easily see he was suffer-
ing from cold and want.
The storm that had been gather
ing began to thicken and the wind
rose high and chill Flakes of snow
began to come down slowly. then
faster and faster. until the at
mosphere was smother of gray.
Looking out | saw what | thought
might be small owl flutter along
the ground. Later on, passing the
Toulouse, | heard an odd noise;
looking in | saw the flicker creep
out through a small hole under the
foundation. | tried to catch him but
he fluttered into the underbrush.
Feeling uneasy about him | went
and scattered feed around the hole
IN the foundation, and on the floor
inside, hoping he would shelter
there out of the cold and storm.
That was the night Of our heavi-
est snowfall this winter. Next morn
ing. on going outdoors. there lay
the flicker dead at our doorstep. In
his extremity he had come/1ear to
us, his friends, to die. I'VE picked
him up and saw his terrible mis-
fortune He had but one foot. His
other leg having been shot off at the
knee, likely by some thoughtless
boy with a % rifle, as that is about
the only way bird can become
crippled like that. We knew then
the true picture of his long strug-
gle for life through the winters
cold, the long months Of hunger and
suffering, and finally death; all in
flicted on this courageous wild
creature by the act of some heed
less gunner
| spread out his rosy wings
against the snow and was glad his
want and suffering were over The
| life that was meant to bring SO
much of beauty and gladness had
been cruelty cut short.
| Parents, think a moment! Should
any parent give his boy gun
without teaching him the humane
and sportsmanlike way to use it?
M. T.. B.