Millions of Wild Pigeons at Maryland Farm

Six Acres of Pigeons - Millions of Wild Pigeons Settling on a Farm in Maryland.

The Birds Piled in Many Places Two Feet Deep.

Cumberland, Md., October 19.

A Mr. Sehley owns a farm six miles north-west of Oakland. Six acres of the farm are covered with alder bushes, or small tree ranging from twelve to fifteen feet in height. They grow very densely on the land, and from this fact have become very generally known as bushes. Some ten days since, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, a large flock of wild pigeons settled down upon the alders. Mr. Sehley say they were to be numbered by thousands, and completely covered the tops of the bushes, hiding them from flight. Another flock followed, and lighted on top of the first. The incoming of pigeons continued until nightfall, at which time they were piled in many places two feet deep upon each other. The bushes were many of them broken down by the weight. and it is estimated that over a million of birds were on the ground. They roosted there till morning, when flock by flock, they flew away, and by nine o'clock the fields were deserted. In the evening they again returned, and they still make this their resting place.

Singular as this story may appear, it is vouched for by many respectable citizens of this city, who have visited the spot and captured hundreds of the birds. After nightfall, it is said. a person may go among the pigeons and sweep them into a bag. The probable explanation of the immense gathering is in the fact that this is the season of their annual visit to the forest regions of the Allegheny mountains in quest of the acorns which are abundant there.

It is a well established fact that wild pigeons have but one roosting place within on very large territory, and that in their transit to warmer latitudes, and during their stoppage by the way, they use one place only as a roost at night. Other pigeon roosts have been known in the glade districts of Maryland, but this one is considered the largest ever seen by the oldest inhabitant.

November 3, 1872. Atlanta Daily Sun 3(746): 1.

Phenomenon of Immense Numbers of Wild Pigeons

Bel Air, (Maryland) January 3.

Wild Pigeons, in immense numbers, are at present to be seen in the woods and old fields of this county. Flocks of larger size than we have ever seen flying from the Southward within the last week. We do not know what, at this season of the year, can drive them from that section of country, to which they annually migrate in the fall.

January 15, 1833. A phenomenon. Connecticut Courant 69(3547): 2.

Wild Pigeons Numerous in the Neighborhood

Wild Pigeons are now very numerous in this neighborhood, and fall in phalanxes, daily, before the ready shot and unerring aim of our marksmen. Food elsewhere is doubtless scarce, and the instinct of the pigeons leads them to the 'land of plenty.' Even the Bears of the forest seem to know something of the character of Jefferson lands.

September 23, 1834. [Wild pigeons numerous in the neighborhood.] Hagerstown Torch Light 20(49): 2. From the Charleston Free Press.

Game in Maryland Market

The Elkton (Md.) Democrat says that wild pigeons, plovers, rail and reed birds, are now making their regular autumnal visit to that region, and are growing quite plenty. Sportsmen are on the qui-vive, and return each day with bags well filled.

September 28, 1850. Game. Sunbury American 3(27): 1.

Spring Reports of Wild Pigeons in 1803

On Saturday and Sunday last, the attention of the inhabitants of this vicinity was arrested by the flights of numerous and very extensive flocks of wild or wood pigeons; they passed from south to the north and appeared to those who were immediately under them, as sundry times, for several successive minutes, to almost exclude the sky. About thirteen years since, a similar flight of these birds of passage was noticed : the ensuing summer was then very sickly. With the great and pious Dr. Samuel Johnson, we would neither blindly admit or rashly reject an attention to these imaginary or real omens. It is man's wisdom to prepare for adversity by penitence for past sin and to meet it with resignation to the Divine Will. It is recorded for our instruction, that when God saw that the repentant Ninevites returned from the evil of their ways, he repented of the evil, that he said he would do unto them and did it not.

March 28, 1803. [Flights of numerous flocks of wild pigeons.] Brattleboro Reporter 1(6): 3.

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Baltimore, March 28.

The immense flights of pidgeons over this city Thursday and Friday, from the north-east to the south-west, afforded fine sport to our city gunners. The park and other neighbouring patches of wood, were filled with sportsmen — and the incessant popping of their fowling pieces had no small resemblance to a skirmish among infantry. The field was finally cleared of pidgeons after nearly 2 days hard shooting; the number of slain we have not heard, but it is supposed to have amounted to some thousands.

How fine a theme would this have been for Shakespeare's Jaques to moralize upon. We hope the same equinoxial gale which has driven back the poor pidgeons to their winter quarters, may not have overtaken the unfortunate mariner and occasioned as fine sport for the sharks of the ocean, as for the gunners of our city.

March 30, 1803. New York Evening Post 425: 5. From the Baltimore Gazette. Also: Poulson's American Daily Advertiser 32(8206): 2 on March 31, 1803; April 6, 1803 in Maryland Herald.

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[Many Pidgeons Flew Over Philadelphia.]

A few days since many pidgeons flew over this city! Had we seen all those that flew in the night, 'tis supposed there would have been as many again as their actually were!

April 12, 1803. Philadelphia Gazette of the United States 23(3281): 3. Also: April 8, 1803 in Baltimore Republican; May 3, 1803 in Farmer's Literary Gazette 10(526): 3.

A Plea for Maryland Songbirds

The following article, taken from the Baltimore Sun, we commend to the special attention of those, who, in their great love of sport, deem everything with feathers "fair game," be it large or small. We think it would be conducive to the benefit of the entire community, if the country press throughout the State would unite in condemning this practice of shooting small birds.

"Some days ago in the local column of the Sun, there appeared an item giving and account of a "robin hunt" in Harford county, by some amateur sportsmen of the City of Baltimore, when three hundred and fifty of these little "red breasts" were slaughtered in one day. The doubtless, was considered by those engaged in it as a most delightful day's sport, but, to the intelligent and reflecting agriculturalist, who is aware of how fast increasing inroads that are now being made upon every vegetable production of the farm by the insidious attacks of insects, this wholesale destruction of insectivorous birds is a matter of deep and serious regret — in fact, of alarm!

When had these birds in abundance — robins, jay-birds, flickers, blue-birds, &c. — building their nests and rearing their young in our woods and orchard, we could raise fruit that was fair and smooth, and which would properly mature; but, now it is almost impossible to find a single specimen of any description, but what, through agency of some invisible insect, is rough, warty and wormy. It is not our orchards and fruit gardens alone that suffer from the increases of insect, through the thoughtless — using no stronger expression — destruction of our small birds, but our grain and vegetable crops of all description, are every year having some new enemy to encounter — either worm or fly.

It is to be hoped that public opinion, which, where well directed, is far better that legislative enactments, may hereafter be of such a character, that say notice of "small game" hunts, as the one above mentioned, may solely be for the purpose of reproof and condemnation.

Harford."

June 26, 1869. A plea for the birds. Vancouver Register 4(37): 1.

Wild Pigeon Shooting in the Alleghanies

By P.L.W.

Deer Park, Md., September 18, 1874.

Editor Forest and Stream:—

I have often seen in the Forest and Stream descriptions of duck, snipe, woodcock, trap, pigeon, &c., shooting, but I do not recollect reading any article on wild pigeon shooting in the country. I think that they are worth mentioning, for they afford a great deal of sport when they are frightened. It is true that they generally fly in flocks of ten or twenty, and therefore they give you more to shoot at than some other birds; but when they get scared, then you will find that you have "greased lightning to aim at." I think that I had more fun (it could not be called sport) at a pigeon roost last September than on any other gunning excursion.

About eight miles from home the pigeons had formed a roost, as it is called, a place where they came in immense numbers to pass the night. Five or six of us, hearing very glowing accounts of the number of birds that were being killed, resolved to spend a night there. So one fine afternoon, about four o'clock, we started out "seeking what we might devour." We soon reached the edge of the roost, but as it was too early for the birds, we built a fire and ate our suppers, and "laid around loose" until sunset; then we started out, reaching the ground as the birds began to settle on the trees and bushes. Our forests here are composed almost entirely of oaks of various kinds, the white, red, black, yellow, chestnut, pin and jack oaks being the principal varieties; the latter (jack oaks) form the underbrush in most places, and are the favorites with the pigeons, who crowd so thickly upon them that the smaller branches were many of them broken off. As soon as it was fairly dark we got to work. We had brought three laborers with us to carry lanterns, and they now became of use. All who had guns advanced together on the front, and kept moving on until we thought there was a sufficient quantity of "noise." We would then fire in the direction from whence it came. The men with lights would then search for the killed and wounded. The first shot we killed 65 birds, or at least found that number, for two farmers came with a wagon next morning and found nearly a load of dead and wounded pigeons lying on the ground. Of course I don't mean in this particular spot, but all over the roost. About midnight we separated into two parties and went in opposite directions.

About three o'clock we found we had all the birds we could carry, so we returned to camp and slept until morning dawned upon us in the shape of a fine misty rain. The pigeons were put in ordinary grain sacks, and when they were counted we had seventy birds apiece. This is somewhat barbarous sport, but very exciting, the birds flying all around you, men swearing as they fall into the numerous holes, or run into thorn bushes, and the ever present idea that some one is about to put a load of shot into you make it quite lively.

The birds are coming in in great numbers, and from the present lookout we shall have good sport this Fall.

If any one of your readers wishes to try this kind of shooting I would be happy to furnish him any information in regard to it that he may wish.

The town (Deer Park) is on the main stem of the B. and O. R.R., 220 miles from Baltimore.

October 8, 1874. Pigeon Shooting in the Alleghanies. Forest and Stream 3(9): 140.

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Maryland — Deer Park, Sept. 30. — I have never seen birds as thick as the wild pigeons are this fall. I have been out every day this week, and have been very successful. On Monday evening in an hour and a half I got nineteen; Tuesday, fourteen, Wednesday, twenty-two, Thursday, twenty-four, Friday, thirty-three, Saturday, thirty-nine, in all one hundred and fifty-one, and an average of twenty-five. I killed these birds all from one point of woods, that runs out into an open glade. They were flying to the main roosts, which is about our half-way house. With the exception of fifteen, these were shot on the wing, from small flocks of five or ten. I could have killed a larger number had I shot at birds in trees, for the oak timber all around me was loaded with them while they were feeding on acorns. Once I did shoot a single barrel at a tree full, and the result was fifteen birds. I killed so many that I have refused all invitations to go to the roost, but others have taken my place, for we can barely get enough sleep on account of the number of gunners. ...

[From portion of Shot Gun and Rifle column in same issue, as submitted by same contributor.]

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Maryland — Deer Park, Oct. 12. — Pigeons are still plentiful some six or eight miles from here, but are secure near town, although they fly over in the morning and evening to and from the feeding grounds.

On Wednesday [October 7th] I bagged sixty-two in about two hours. Immense numbers of birds have been killed, and quite a number of gentlemen have been here from Baltimore, Cumberland, and two (the best shots and keenest sportsmen) from Bedford Springs, Va. Some of these gentlemen have not been successful, for they came too late for the shooting near town, and had not time to go any distance. Two or three men, whose names I don't know, have been netting pigeons for the past two or three weeks, and you may judge of their luck from the fact that they shipped 300 dozens of birds in the first two weeks of their being here. I do not know whether this is against the laws of Maryland, but it is against those of fairness and humanity.

This wholesale slaughter has aroused the indignation of all the neighboring sportsmen, and I have heard several say that they had been hunting for the nets without success, intending to destroy them if they were found. Grouse are quite plentiful and bring a good price (forty cents apiece). A few quail, and occasionally a wild turkey may be seen for sale. I shall go about ten miles into the country this week for a couple of days grouse and pigeon shooting, and will inform you of my luck.

W. October 15, 1874. Forest and Stream 3(10): 149-150.

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[The wild pigeons had departed from this area by the latter part of mid-October.]

Maryland Duck Shooting on the Susquehanna Flats

Judge Gildersleeve, who is perhaps even better known as a rifle shot and sportsman than a jurist, has done recently some good shooting on the waters of Chesapeake Bay, where yearly immense numbers of wild fowl congregate. Sitting in his office the Judge described it.

"There is no better place for duck shooting," he said, "than the Susquehanna flats, near Havre de Grace, on the upper waters of the Chesapeake Bay. There the wild celery grows in abundance. This is the favorite food of the canvas back ducks, and it imparts a delightful flavor to their flesh. Consequently the canvas backs of that region are the very best. So, too, are the red heads that abound in that locality. These birds bring a higher price in the market than those shot in any other place that I know of. Now, as you probably know very well, duck shooting in Maryland is strictly protected by law, which provides that no shooting shall take place in the fall until November 1. Then it begins, but it is confined to Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. After January 1 the shooting is extended to Saturdays. But this added day doesn't amount to much usually, for by the holiday's the flats are generally frozen over, and the duck shooting comes to an end.

"And now a word about the modus operandi," the Judge continued. The best way to shoot ducks on the flats then is from a box, or a battery as it is called. This is simply a coffin-shaped, water-tight box, so weighted that when the hunter gets in its sides are nearly level with the surface of the water. On each side is a canvas-colored frame-work called a wing. These wings extend out over the water, and are intended to keep the waves from washing over the battery. When, however, there is a stiff wind blowing they not infrequently prove insufficient to keep the water out of the box. Then a strip of sheet iron four or six inches wide which is attached to the box is turned up, and it proves a sufficient barrier. In this box lies the hunter with his gun in his hands. Very often these boxes are placed in pairs, and two hunters occupy them. The laws of the State further demand that for each battery a license of $25 shall be paid. There is another license for $10, issued to what are called 'bushwhackers.' These are the men too poor to own a battery and outfit, and cruise around the flats and kill what they can. The first week in November is the most desirable for shooting, as you readily see, for then the birds are tamest and most plentiful, and then of course the batteries bring the highest prices. The first Monday morning in November found our party, which consisted of Col. E. Harrison Sanford, R.R. Haines, Arthur T. Sullivan and myself, sleeping soundly on the scow of Capt. George R. Carver, one of the best known and most successful duck hunters of Maryland. Capt. Carver has one of the most complete outfits in that section. It consists of a scow, batteries, decoys and small boats. The scow is a large flat-bottomed schooner-rigged craft, drawing little water. Forward is a kitchen complete, and aft is the cabin or dining saloon. There are comfortable bunks and everything is shipshape and right snug. The scow lay all night outside the lines. There are lines prescribed by law inside of which the scows and boats cannot go until after 3 o'clock on shooting days. Of course, on dark, stormy mornings some daring skipper will run it; but it is risky business. But at 3 o'clock the scows, many of which are lying all around the lines, hoist sail and make for the grounds. They choose the most likely spots, get far enough apart not to interfere with one another, anchor the batteries and put out the decoys. At about 5 o'clock the sportsmen are called, breakfast is served, and as soon as it is light enough to see they are rowed out to the batteries, where they take their places, and wait for the ducks.

"On that Monday morning we used a double battery, and two of us took our places. About us were 450 decoy red head and canvas back ducks. They were made of iron, and looked very natural. When we were in our places the men rowed back, the scow was anchored off at a good distance, and we waited. The morning dawned beautiful and clear. Soon we began to hear the popping of guns all around us, and very soon ducks came our way, and we began to do some popping ourselves. The day was perfect. The sun shoe warmly, and there was just breeze enough to make the ducks fly well. A battery is always placed so that the shooter lies with his head to windward and his feet to leeward. Ducks, when possible, fly up in the face of the wind when about to light. If a flock is flying right with the wind and decides to light, it makes a curve, swoops around, and comes up sharp in the face of the wind, so that a good duck shooting day should be rather windy. There we lay in our coffins, surrounded by decoys, and every few minutes we'd see over us, or to our right of left, a flock of ducks swerving around to join our decoys, which danced on the little waves in a very lifelike way. The time to shoot is just as the birds are about to light, or just as they see you and decide not to light. Under favorable conditions they come within fifteen or twenty yards. Then is the time to sit up in the box and bang away. New beginners make the mistake usually of firing at the flock, not at single birds. The result is poor execution. You must select your bird and kill him, and then go for another. Colonel Sanford and I tried the experiment several times of blazing away at the flock, but we usually missed all. This year, for the first time, I tried the experiment of using two guns, and succeeded several times in getting three birds, one with each barrel of my first gun, and the third with the first barrel of my second gun. This requires quick work. Sometimes we got two birds with one barrel, when they lapped each other as they flew."

"Is the trip expensive?"

"No. We take the train here at 4 in the afternoon arriving the afternoon for Havre de Grace, get there at 8:12 in the evening, go right aboard the sloop for all arrangements have been made, do our shooting, and get back here Thursday morning. For the use of the batteries we paid $150. That included everything, except about $1 for provisions. So you see, dividing the expense among four makes them quite reasonable. We could have paid all our expenses with the ducks we shot, and had something over. The first part of the season the best batteries bring $50 a day. That's what we paid. Later they come down to $40, but rarely less than that, for the owners can make that usually by shooting ducks for the market. I consider the time and money well spent, for it is rare sport."

November 23, 1880. Maryland duck shooting. Judge Gildersleeve's experience on the Susquehanna Flats. Chester Daily Times 9(1303): 2. From the New York Sun.