“We’ll picnic there and gather shells for our collection,” she outlined plans. “Vevi will have a chance too to give her bird report.”
Vevi said nothing, but she felt rather queer inside. She had been too busy to give the required report a single thought.
“I’ll bet Vevi won’t have one ready!” teased Jane.
“Oh, yes, I will,” Vevi insisted. “Just you wait and see.”
After the breakfast dishes had been washed and the beds made, the girls all piled into Mrs. William’s big sedan. The tide was low, so it was possible to drive along the beach without the tires sinking in.
Before long, the Brownies sighted the tall lighthouse directly ahead. Often at night the girls had observed its revolving ray blink on and off.
“Brant’s Point light has saved many a ship at sea,” Miss Gordon told the troop. “And the lives of countless birds.”
Rosemary asked her how a lighthouse could save birds.
“Some of the older lighthouses have beacons that burn steadily,” Miss Gordon explained. “Such a light always seems to attract birds. Some circle the light towers until from sheer exhaustion they drop into the sea. Others fly against the windows and batter their wings.”
The teacher went on to say that birds were much less likely to be attracted by Brant Light, which blinked off at intervals. Also, the tower had projections or shelves where a tired bird might rest in its long flight southward.