Birds and the Death Light.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 95, 25 April 1891, Page 4 (Supplement)

Birds and the Death Light.

The keeper of the lighthouse on Fire Island, which is generally the first land seen by vessels from Europe bound for New York, has made an interesting statement with reference to the number of birds which commit involuntary suicide againet his lanterns and his lenses. The thick lenses are chipped in places by the ducks and geese striking them with their heavy bills, after flying through the glass (one eighth of an inch thick) which covers the outside of the lantern. Frequently, he says, he has found one or more ducks or geese flying about in the lantern chamber, wounded, with the cut glass, and sprinkling lenses and floor with their blood. As many as 60 dead ducks have been picked up on the ground ■about the base of the lighthouse on a single morning ; and sometimes more ihan a hundred birds of various kinds have been found; while the large metal ball which crowns the lighthouse has been bent ahd nearly twisted from its position by flocks of wild geese coming against it.