A BIRDLOVER'S YEAR 



Petchora River, he found that with the 

 exception of one or two ravens there was not 

 a bird to be seen on the tundra. As is 

 usual in this region, summer came suddenly 

 and swiftly, and almost simultaneously the 

 birds arrived. The frozen river began to 

 melt under the hot sun, and geese, swans, 

 ducks, gulls, redstarts, wagtails, pipits, and 

 a host more of birds (with hawks pursuing 

 them) began to appear on this boggy moor- 

 land. For an explanation of this fact we 

 must look to the perpetual sunshine of the 

 short Arctic summer, which forces into 

 maturity enormous crops of fruits, such as 

 the cranberry, cloudberry, and crowberry. 

 Winter, however, arrives so soon that the 

 snow descends on these fruits, and thus they 

 are preserved perfectly fresh and pure all 

 through the winter until the coming spring. 

 The fruit never decays under its covering 

 of snow, and is accessible the moment the 

 melting sets in. Experience has taught the 

 birds that they will find an unlimited supply 

 of crystallized fruits awaiting them each 

 spring, whilst the same heat that' melts 

 the snow naturally brings forth insect life 

 of the most prolific nature, and thus 

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