LEAF AS UMBRELLA

Evening Star, Issue 20129, 20 March 1929, Page 10

LEAF AS UMBRELLA

HOW BIRDS FIND SKELTER Interesting incident-, of how birds find shelter from, storms arc told by Edward IE Forbush. former Massachusetts State ornithologist and an authority cm wild life. “ One day,” says Mr Eorhush, “ overtaken in the woods by a sudden pouring rain, I sought shelter under the edge of a, sand-bank where the roots of a large tree held up the tnrl. which (protected like a root: overhead. All along" the hank, close under its overhanging edge, sparrows of various kinds had found shelter, ’ and wero happily picking up seeds and sand. Another time during a heavy hailstorm I found refuge under a porch, and there a chimney swift, beaten down by the hail, joined mo. “ Light birds are active in light showers, which do not bother them, but during heavy downpours, especially those accompanied by high winds, they seek shelter, unless engaged in shielding their eggs or young. “ A. broad leaf will serve as an umbrella. ever a hummingbird’s nest in a shower, but in a heavy rain accompanied by high wind, the little mother bird, brooding her young, is drenched and tossed about perhaps tor many hours; nevertheless she clings to her nest, and spreading her wings over her tiny brood keeps them dry and warm. In such, a storm a pair of vireos sat side by side upon their nest, facing in opposite directions, both sheltering the young with their wings. Jwo warblers manage ddiffcreutly—the female, sat on the nest and the male stood over her with wings slightly _ spread. The rain ran down his slanting back and off his tail in a. little stream. “Birds that nest in hollow frees or bird houses stay there during cold storms. Phoehes and swallows go to their sheltered nests in. barns, outbuildings, caves, etc. Some birds use crevices in the rocks or other shelters in which normally they sleep. In severe winter ram storms or sleet storms the smaller species must take shelter. During an ice storm a chickadee. his tail loaded with ice, was s&m to creep under a loosened clapboard oi : an old house. “ Tim larger and hardier birds are not troubled much by storms, oven m winter. Hawks and owls get all the protection they need in pine woods. Grouse and bobwliites frequently allow the .snow to cover them in’grcnt storms as they sit quietly on the ground. One winter -I found a little cave m the rocks that had afforded shelter for two grouse, until one of them, roaming incautiously abroad, was killed by a large hawk. Grouse often dive into tin/snow for shelter or to escape their enemies.

“Ducks and .sea birds arc not disturbed by rain, but rather enjoy it. The wind is their great enemy. In great wind storms they like to get under the lee of the shore. J remember a long storm with a tremendous off-shore wind in winter. After it, many sea. ducks and other sea fowl were' found .floating dead on the waves with their heads under watem The off-shore wind had been so strong that they could not reach shore.”