Pigeon Trade of Michigan

We learn from the Grand Rapids Eagle that there have been shipped from that place alone — to say nothing of the large quantities shipped at other places in that region — 558 barrels, or 108,555 pounds, of wild pigeons during the past season. The Eagle estimates the total number of pigeons shipped from that region of Michigan as between one and two million.

The freight paid on pigeons at the Grand Rapids Express office during the season amounted to 3,488.98; and the pigeons sold for about $25,250. Quite a respectable income for one town, from wild game, in a single sporting season.

August 10, 1860. The pigeon trade of Michigan. Burlington Free Press 7(6): 2.

Large Shipment of Wild Pigeons from Michigan

Wild Pigeons

A propeller which arrived at Detroit on the 13th inst. had on board 17,000 live pigeons, recently caught near Frankfort, of Benzie County, Mich. This is the largest shipment of live pigeons ever made at one time in the State, and 11,000 of them are to be used at the approaching New York State Convention of Sportsmen, which takes place at Oswego July 25.

June 24, 1874. Knoxville Weekly Chronicle 5(13): 4.

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A propeller which arrived at Detroit on Saturday morning had on board 17,000 live pigeons, recently caught near Frankfort, Benzie county, Mich. This is the largest shipment of live pigeons ever made at one time in the State, and 11,000 of them are to be used at the approaching New York State Convention of Sportsmen, which takes place at Oswego July 25. The Detroit Tribune says: "The pigeons this year about Frankfort are more numerous than they have ever been known before. Mr. D.C. Whitwood, of this city, who returned from Frankfort a few days since, reports that over an area of some three or four miles square the trees are literally covered with pigeons, and about 200 men have been engaged for ten days or more in catching or killing them. Every day from ten to forty barrels of dressed pigeons, packed in ice, have been shipped from Frankfort, besides hundreds of live ones in coops. The roost is in the vicinity of Crystal Lake, a few miles from Frankfort, in a forest of beech trees, the pigeons seeking this place because of the beech nuts, which they feed upon. This flock, previous to roosting her, stayed in Oceana county some ten days or more, and there afforded work and amusement to several hundred men, and thousands of pigeons, dead and alive, were sent to various sections of the country from that point. There are men among the pigeon catchers who have followed this flock from Arkansas and Missouri, and who make pigeon-catching a business, being supplied with nets and all paraphernalia necessary to entrap and catch birds. They get track of a flock of pigeons early in the Spring in the South, and, being acquainted with their habits, are able to follow them the whole year. They generally find men at every place ready to buy their pigeons, and pay the cash for them, the price being from $1.50 per dozen. The pigeon-catchers thought this flock, when they left their roost at Frankfort, would start for the Lake Superior country, thence into Wisconsin, and thence west. Some of the party were getting ready, when Mr. Whitwood left Frankfort, to start for Mackinaw by boat to keep on the track of the pigeons, as they gave indications of being about to take their departure.

July 2, 1874. Wild pigeons. Stroudsburg Jeffersonian 32(7): 2.

Extraordinary Pigeon Roost in Michigan

From Benzie County, Michigan, comes a pigeon story, which beats all that have been told before, either in Scripture or out of it. The roost where the pigeons congregate in such untold millions is called "Betsy River nesting." The tract is about sixteen miles long and three wide. Every bough is occupied by a dozen nests and a hundred birds, and from morning till night the air whirrs with ceaseless wings going and coming. Between 250 and 400 men have been engaged for over six weeks constantly killing and trapping. As the old birds leave or are destroyed as many young ones take their places. There are three regular "flights" a day — two "tom-flights" and one "hen-flight." At early dawn, the male birds set out flying to the East and North to seek a breakfast of seeds and berries, ten, twenty or fifty miles away, and by 6 or half-past 6 the sky is black with the departing birds. An hour later, not a bird is to be seen, but towards 8 o'clock the squadrons return in clouds. The shot-gun and the net are the principal weapons used by the hunter.

July 18, 1874. A pigeon roost extraordinary. Columbia Daily Phoenix 10(107): 2. Also: July 23, 1874 in Anderson Intelligencer.

Slaughter of the Innocents at Crooked Lake

The way the pigeons are being slaughtered in the vicinity of the nesting place on Crooked Lake is immense. Professional pigeon catchers fill the woods netting them by the thousands while hundreds of persons with guns, some say between three and four hundred daily, are engaged in shooting them. The law prevents engaging in this pastime within five miles of the roost but we hear that the law is not very strictly lived up to. It is said the shipments average over 200 dozen per day. In fact this estimate may be considered a small one, as we are told that one netter captured 214 dozen in a day.

April 6, 1878. Slaughter of the innocents. Cheboygan Northern Tribune 3(39): 4.

Poisoned Flesh of Wild Pigeons

A gentleman, who thoroughly understands whereof he speaks, has written a letter to the New York papers concerning the poisoned flesh of wild pigeons. He writes from East Saginaw, Michigan, and says: "The pigeons are nesting in large numbers in the northern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan. They are attracted there by the vast swamps of the Rhododendron or calico bush, commonly known as the poison laurel, a species of oleander, almost identical with the sweet bay tree. The unusually mild winter has swelled and developed the buds prematurely, and the pigeons are feeding upon the, This diet impregnates their flesh with a subtle poison, and numerous dangerous and fatal cases are being daily reported from eating them. The wild pigeons are being caught in nets and shipped east in vast numbers, and you will doubtless save hundreds of lives by warning the public against eating any wild pigeons until after the middle of June. I was formerly analyst for manufacturing chemists, and I have no doubt that the recent cases are directly traceable to eating pigeons."

April 24, 1878. Indiana State Sentinel 17(36): 2.

Pigeons in Woods by Detroit

The Detroit Free Press says, wild pigeons are very plenty in the woods back of that city. Wild rice was found in the crops of some of those taken from which the Free Press infers that they must have been flown 700 miles in less than 24 hours, as the rice is not found nearer that that distance, and it digests in 24 hours.

April 4, 1850. Pigeons. Jeffersonian Republican 10(33): 2. Also in abbreviated extent on April 13, 1850 in the Sunbury American.

Enormous Flocks of Wild Pigeons Knocked Down With Ease

We are informed by persons who arrived yesterday from Port Huron and Fort Gratiot, that the air is literally filled with pigeons, which fly in such immense numbers that a great quantity are daily killed with nothing but poles in the hands of inhabitants. They are knocked down with the greatest ease, as they fly low and in enormous flocks. Here is a fine chance for our amateur sportsmen, as the veriest novice cannot fail to bring down dozens at a shot. Hunters are daily killing them by thousands. — Detroit Free Press.

May 20, 1858. Pigeons. Stroudsburg Jeffersonian 18(22): 2.

Wild Pigeons in Michigan

A correspondent of the Detroit Post, writing (from Traverse, Mich, April 5), says that the biennial flight of pigeons to the woods of Northern Michigan began the latter part of March. These birds on their journeyings from the South to the far North stop every two years for two or three nest logs in Michigan, usually coming in immense numbers. On the alternate years, when beech nuts are not abundant in this State, they take some other course in their northward flight. Formerly their first nesting was in Allegan or Ottawa county. Of late they have generally settled first in Shelby, Oceana county, and later in the season in Bernie and Emmet counties. Two years ago they skipped both Oceana and Benzie counties and nested first in Emmet, near Petoskey. This year their first flight was to the same section, but they soon discovered that they bad been fooled by the warm weather further south. The weather about Petoskey was still cold, the bay was frozen over, the snow was deep in the woods, the prospect for good feeding was bad, and after a day or two of apparent irresolution and many erratic flights the birds, as If by common consent, took their course to the neighborhood of Platte River in Benzie county.

As a local publication stated at the time, "they came in clouds, millions upon millions. It seemed as if the entire world of pigeons was concentrating at this point. The air was full of them and the sun shut out of sight, and still they came, millions upon millions more." They spread over as area of more than fifteen miles in length and six to eight miles wide, and the prospect for a time was that the nesting would be the most extensive ever known in the State. The news speedily reached all parts of the State, and it is said that in a fortnight's time three thousand hunters — professionals, amateurs, greenhorns — had invaded the country from all directions, surrounding and penetrating the nesting grounds.

It was noticed, however, by old hunters that the birds did not settle down to domestic life as quickly as usual. The roosting birds — that is, those who had not yet mated — outnumbered the nesting birds a hundred to one. Some of the more zealous and inconsiderate sportsmen entered the nesting woods and commenced popping away at the nests themselves, a snow storm followed, high winds prevailed, and many of the roosting birds, disgusted, postponed their anticipated housekeeping, and scattered. The nesting consequently falls far short in magnitude of what was at first expected, though still large in area and containing millions of birds. It scattered along the banks of the Platte River, the townships of Almira, Zeeland, and Homestead. The distance from one end to the other is over ten miles, and the width varies from a few rods to three or four miles. There are, however, numerous long distances between the two extremes where no nests are to be found, and the birds have occasionally changed their ground, so that many of the hunters themselves are very uncertain as to the exact whereabouts of the birds at the present time. In the nests first made the young are about ready to fly, and have been abandoned by the old birds, and in some places, owing to the winds and the constant shooting, the nests have been deserted before any birds were hatched.

One nesting is about the same as another, and the first nest you come to is like the million others in the county. When these migratory birds have mated, decided where to settle, and have staked off their claim, they proceed at once to construct about the slightest nest that will hold an egg and a bird. "Three sticks and a feather" constitute about the material, according to a recent visitor here. The feather is often wanting, but a few more sticks are generally added. The nest is placed in the crotch of a tree, on two forked branches, or anywhere else in the tree where suitable support can be found. Cedar trees along the river bottoms seem to be preferred, but when the nestings are large, beech, and other trees are occupied. From half a dozen to fifty or sixty nests are built in a tree, and only one egg is laid in each nest.

May 29, 1880. Scientific American 42(22): 343-344.

Observant Doctor Originates Phenology in Michigan

When Harmon A. Atkins, M.D., moved to a territory in Michigan in 1842, he decided to stay, with his tenure spanning more than four decades during which a profound interest in birds brought about a pioneer effort for historic ornithology. The doctor documented the arrival of different species, their status, and other aspects of their local natural history which he shared in a variety of ways.

Dr. Atkins arrived in 1842, having left Elba, N.Y., with nothing to indicate why he selected this particular place. At his new home, he was the first medical practitioner in the township, according to chronicles of the county history book. Though he left for a short time, he returned - owning property - and took up residence in Belle Oak, a small hamlet also shown on a map of Ingham county in 1873 as the Locke post-office.

The township was mostly covered with forest, and had sufficient growth of beech, ash, maple, basswood, hickory and black-walnut to provide the harvest of timber in abundance, according to a history of the county. The area includes Sullivan Creek and Squaw Creek.

Area maps of Locke township, Michigan.

The territory was his home, his "roving office" and the outdoor setting where he denoted a variety of birds he observed and appreciated enough to remember.

Dr. H.A. Atkins was "an old style doctor, went horseback, had his saddle bags, and believed in bleeding, and blistering. From necessity he was forced to use barks and herbs. His great knowledge of medical botany enable him to gather from woods and fields. He made a decoction of white popple bark to take the place of quinine in chills and fevers. Many of his old patrons told ... how he cured them of the 'shakes' by using this decoction. Dr. Atkins was a naturalist and his hobby was ornithology. He was a second John Burroughs in keenness of observation. He always noticed the flight of our migratory birds and would often stop when going to visit the sick to study the habits and appearances of any strange bird. His articles on birds often appeared in the local newspapers, and his 'Book on Birds' appeared and was published with Dr. Cook's work issued by M.A.C. Dr. Atkin's studies took a practical trend as he showed the farmers that the birds were great insect destroyers and should be protected instead of destroyed." — Pioneer History of Ingham County

In looking for details on this pioneer of historic ornithology, there was no information found on the manner in which the doctor kept his observations. Undoubtedly his notebook was a treasure, providing the source for presenting his observations 25 years after they were first noted during his travels about the local country.

Bird Calendar

The doctor certainly had a roving eye for three months each spring of the year, looking for his first sighting of a particular species. Some of the essential details were issued in summary tables - typically only nine or ten lines - of an article of a very few paragraphs in the Ornithologist and Oologist, a fledgling journal of the early 1880s.

The Baltimore Oriole and Scarlet Tanager were the first two species with the details issued; and both had been first noted in the summer of 1842. Then, the small green-crested flycatcher (Empidonax acadicus) first seen in 1857, followed by the Whip-poor-will (first seen in 1842), American Redstart, and Sandhill Crane. A couple of brief articles on other species were issued during the interim, including one noting how the Black-billed Cuckoo had a nest in which a Yellow-billed Cuckoo also laid eggs, and possibly incubated the entire clutch!

The following table starts with Julian Date 50 which corresponds to February 19, 1857; day 60 equals March 1; day 90 is March 30 or March 31, depending on the year; day 120 is April 29 or 30; day 130 is May 9 or 10; and day 156 is June 5, 1865. A Julian date is determined by converting a calendar day to a particular number, and is very useful in sorting dates of occurrence.

Julian Date	Acadian Flycatcher	American Redstart	Baltimore Oriole	Sandhill Crane	Scarlet Tanager	Whip-poor-will
50	-	-	-	1857	-	-
60	-	-	-	1882	-	-
68	-	-	-	1860, 1871	-	-
72	-	-	-	1883	-	-
73	-	-	-	1868	-	-
74	-	-	-	1878	-	-
75	-	-	-	1859	-	-
78	-	-	-	1858, 1873	-	-
79	-	-	-	1865, 1874	-	-
84	-	-	-	1867	-	-
86	-	-	-	1862	-	-
87	-	-	-	1869	-	-
88	-	-	-	1872, 1881	-	-
89	-	-	-	1877	-	-
90	-	-	-	1863, '70, '81	-	-
92	-	-	-	1861	-	-
93	-	-	-	1866	-	-
99	-	-	-	1876, 1879	-	-
103	-	-	-	1864	-	-
104	-	-	-	-	-	1858, 1878
112	1860	-	-	-	-	1866, 1881
113	1861	-	-	-	-	1861, ' 63, '77
114	1881	-	-	-	-	1862
115	1870, 1878	-	-	-	-	1869, 1872
116	1862, ' 65, '72	-	-	-	-	-
117	1880	-	-	-	-	-
118	1866	-	1859	-	-	1856, 1880
119	1858, 1871	-	-	-	-	1860
120	1863, '67, 68, '79	1878	-	-	-	1857, ' 71, '79
121	-	-	1860, '61, '71, '78	-	1878	1865, '67, '70
122	1859, 1869	1863, 1872	-	-	-	1859
123	1857	1866, '69, '82	1856	-	1872	-
124	1873	1879, 1881	1869, 1880	-	1861, '63, '80	1868
125	1874	1873, 1880	1858, '67, '77, '79	-	1856, '60, '70	1873, 1876
126	1864	-	1868	-	1859, '71, '73	1864
127	-	1870, 1874	-	-	-	-
128	1876	1860, '61, 67	1865, '66, '72, '73	-	1858, 1874	1875
129	1875	1875	1864, 1874	-	-	1874
130	1877	1861, '71, '76, '77	1862, '63, '75, '76	-	1866, '75, '79	-
131	-	1859	1857	-	-	-
132	-	1857, 1858	-	-	1862, 1877	-
133	-	1868	-	-	1876	-
134	-	-	-	-	1869	-
135	-	-	-	-	1864	-
136	-	-	-	-	1868	-
137	-	-	-	-	1867	-
138	-	1865	-	-	1857	-
156	-	-	-	-	1865	-
157	-	1864	-	-	-	-

The dates noted by the doctor readily indicate the times when appropriate for the particular species to arrive in Michigan. When the particular date (i.e., the julian date has several instances), this is an indication of the period when the species was most noted more often in this region of Michigan by Dr. H.A. Atkins.

There were undoubtedly a variety of factors influencing when the Doctor first noted a species, including their prominence in the landscape, ease of being noted, and those personal concerns - especially from patients - which could influence the ability of Atkins to look for birds and to take the time to make a notation in the medium which he used to record observations ...

Acadian Flycatcher

First noted on April 21 with the range of arrival dates extending to May 10, a period of 28 days.

American Redstart

Arrival dates from April 30 to June 5, with most of the arrival dates occurring through mid-May, a period of 18 days. Perhaps the June date was the result of a doctor caring for his patients?

Baltimore Oriole

From April 28 to May 11, a period of 13 days. Nothing is prominent here to indicate the variance in dates of arrival. This species appears to have the most constricted range of dates.

Sandhill Crane

Dates from February 19 to April 12, a period of ca. 53 days. There were obviously a variety of factors influencing when the cranes arrived, which would be based on weather conditions and other items apparent to the birds, and which would may not be obvious to some watcher.

Scarlet Tanager

Arrival dates from May 1 to June 5, with all but one between May 1 and May 18 (a period of 17 days), so the latter date was probably the result of some unknown influence.

Whip-poor-will

Arrived between April 14 and May 9, a period of 25 days.

These details convey an effort of observation based upon closely looking for different species - all of them were not so readily seen as the Sandhill Crane - and to note the time. The focus was not for one year, but continued for one year, then the next and onward for more than 25 years.

Watching the birds — though the statement may seem trivial based upon the historic record of accomplishment — obviously meant so much to the Doctor, that he continually kept his eye on the bird scene, made his vital notes, and eventually presented them to other enthusiasts when there was a means of publication.

Ornithological Legacy

Dr. Atkins continued to publish his bird observations. Two important papers gave details on the winter and summer birds (82 species during June to August 1884) of the township. Other items issued about his observations are given in the bird books for the state, though summarized.

Sadly, the birdly efforts of Dr. H.A. Atkins were cut short by his death on May 19th, when he was 64, having been born in 1821 in Erie County, New York. The doctor's obituary was published in latter 1885 in the Ornithologist and Oologist. Another much shorter version was issued in the Auk, a fledgling journal of the era.

"For twenty-nine years, he carefully recorded day by day the arrivals, presence and abundance of a large series of birds, and his accuracy and painstaking effort have rarely, if ever, been equaled. His notes, a few of which were inserted from time to time in our pages, were always the results of his own observations. We valued them especially for the care, so plainly shown, with which each state fact was personally endorsed." — Ornithologist and Oologist

The editor mentioned that Dr. Atkins had planned on publishing a book of observations, but was unable to achieve this.

Obviously a detailed presentation of the observations of Harmon A. Atkins, M.D. would still be a valuable contribution to historic ornithology, more than 125 years later, as they would indicate the conditions for the migratory birds at a particular place in time. The details on spring arrival dates would make an especially interesting comparison if available for species other than those given here, and if climatological data could also be evaluated to evaluate any apparent differences.

Chippewa Language Preeminent in Historic Terms for Birds

Annals of history from across decades indicate that the Chippewa Tribe had a vivid and rich variety of terms related to birds. The wordly expanse of the language shows a definitive knowledge of species and how the winged ones were a prominent aspect of tribal lore and mythology.

The history started with details published in 1778, from the journal of John Long, wherein there weren't any notes on living birds, but was a fine set of terminology from Nipigon Bay. The following list provides a designated term based on the term given in the published source, and the tribal term.

Term Designation - Given Term - Native Term

Bird - All small birds - pennyshance

Bird - Fowl, or birds - pennyshis

Crane - Crane - kitchee carbo

Crow, American - Crow - cark cark

Duck - Wild duck - sheshib

Egg - Eggs - wark in

Feather - Feathers - pequim

Goose - Wild goose - neecark

Loon - Loon - maunk

Nest - Nest - wesshepatchta

Plover - Plover - gueveshew

Ptarmigan - Partridge - peenay

Swan - Swan - kitchee meework

Turkey, Wild - Wild Turkey - weenecobbo

Wing - Wing - gwimbitch

The list conveys how the people knew a number of the prominent species of the tribal territory.

A relatively short few year later, there was another set of terms issued, based on the J. Long, publishing his account in 1791 of "Voyages and travels of an Indian interpreter and trader, describing the manners and customs of the North American Indians; with an account of the posts situated on the river Saint Laurence, Lake Ontario, &c. to which is added a vocabulary..."

Bird - All small birds - pennyshance

Bird - Fowl, or birds - pennyshis

Crane - Crane - kitchee carbo

Duck - Wild duck - sheeshib

Duck - Wild duck - sheshib

Eagle - Eagle - meegeezes

Egg - Egg - manneguk

Egg - Eggs - wark

Feather - Feathers of birds - pequim

Fowl - Birds, or fowl - pinneyshis

Goose - Wild goose - neecark

Loon - Loon - maunk

Plover - Plover - gueveshew

Quail - Partridge - peenay

Swan - Swan - kitchee meework

Turkey, Wild - Turkey - weenecobbo

Wing - Wing of birds - gwimbitch

In 1828, John Summerfield wrote a sketch of the grammar of the Chippeway language from tribes in Michigan, which was issued by the Canada Conference Missionary Society. There were more than twenty terms of interest. This particular source was interim between the reminiscences of explorers and the details given by missionaries which followed, and were requisite for the holy men to communicate with the native people, in their efforts to convert them to a white-man's religious beliefs.

Bird - Cock; bird has derived its name from its crowing; so nearly all birds - pahkahahquay

Blackbird - Black-bird - ahsegenak

Bobwhite, Northern - Quail - mahskoodaysay

Coot, American - Mud-hen - mahnoomenekashee

Crane - Crane - ahshahgeh

Crow, American - Crow - kahgahgehshee

Duck - Duck - shesheeb

Duck - Duck species - ahahwa

Eagle - Eagle - megezeh

Feather quill - Feather, quill - megwon

Fowl - Fowls - penasewug

Goose, Canada - Wild goose - nekah

Grouse - Partridge - penaih

Gull - Gull - kahyask

Meadowlark, Eastern - Meadow-lark - moonegwana

Nest - Nest - wahzeswon

Owl - Owl - kookookoo-ooh

Pigeon, Passenger - Pigeon - omemee

Rail - Water-hen - ahjegahdashib

Raven, Common - Raven - ahndaig

Robin, American - Robin - opecheh

Turkey, Wild - Turkey - mezhesay

Wing - Wing - onegwegun

Woodpecker - Wood-pecker - pahpahsay

When Rev. Frederic Baraga was a missionary in the upper peninsula on the shore of Lake Superior, an essential aspect of his unforgettable legacy is a dictionary of the language of the native people he talked with on an intimate, conversational basis among the northern woods.

This priest of the Roman Catholic religion went west in 1843 to a place now called L'Anse — a place on the upper peninsula of a state now called Michigan because of some big inland lake — to teach Indians about the great heavenly spirit to which meaningful prayers should be directed. Communication with some understanding was essential, so during the subsequent years, Father Baraga obviously learned the intricacies of the native language, and wrote down the details on some type of paper or parchment, for later compilation and eventual publication.

Father Baraga's profound result was "A Dictionary of the Otchipwe Language, Explained in English," for the Chippewa Tribe, also applied to ancillary tribes, designated as the Ottawa, Pottawattamie and Algonquins.

Lake Superior — Otchipwe-kitchigami — was the "sea of the Chippewas" and its western lands were a focal point for this sublime investigation of the words used by the local tribe where the father spent his valuable time.

For the birds known to tribes-men, Rev. Baraga's dictionary provided several new terms for tribal language known for the annals of historic ornithology. The terminology is among the best because of its variety of defined words for the winged ones. This 662-page dictionary conveys a vivid understanding for a language rich in verbiage beyond simplistic terminology. There are terms of many variations for very specific, particular actions. Such subtlety is given.

This is a list of so many bird-related terms among the multitude of definitions, providing an interpreted term, the English term given in the dictionary, and the original, tribal term, though without any of the particular typographic subtleties given within the original volume published at Cincinnati:

The same year the dictionary was published, Reverend Baraga became a bishop in the church.

Term Designation	Given Term	Native Term
Beak	Beak	okoj
Beak	It has a long beak	ginikoje
Beak	It has a short beak	takokoje
Beak	Raven's beak	kagagiwikoj
Beak	The bird carries something in his beak	nimaige bineshi
Bill	Bill	masinaigans
Bird	A kind of bird	pashkandamo
Bird	A kind of white bird	odamaweshi
Bird	A large bird	binessi
Bird	A small bird	bineshi
Bird	Another kind of nightingale	sasina
Bird	bastard-loon	ashimang
Bird	Eagle-fighter (bird)	mi'gi-san-na-nis'-si
Bird	Giant's bird	windigobineshi
Bird	Honey-bird	nonokasse
Bird	Nightingale	gaskaskanedji
Bird	Red bird	natchinamanessi
Bird	Redbreast (bird)	memiskondini-manguneshi
Bird	South bird	ja-wa'-ni-bi-ne'-shi
Bird	Tamed bird	awakan
Bird	Young animal or bird	oshki-aiaans
Bird	Young little bird	panadja
Bird, female	Female of birds	najesse
Bird, male	Male of birds	nabesse
Bittern	Bittern	moshkaossi, ganawabimogisissweshi
Blackbird	A kind of black bird	makateinnak
Blackbird	A kind of black bird	segibanwanishi
Blackbird	Starling (bird)	assiginak; nadjinamanessi
Bluebird	A kind of blue bird	ojawane
Chicken	Chicken	panadja; pakaakwens
Claw	Eagle's claw	magisiwiganj
Claw	Loon's foot	mangosid
Crane	Crane	adjidjad
Crane, Whooping	White crane	wabadjidjak
Crest	Cock's crest	pakaakwe o patakibinweon
Crop	Crop or craw of a bird	omodai
Crop	This bird has a large crop	mangomodais aw bineshi
Crossbill	Cross-bill, cross-beak	ajidekoneshi
Crow	The cock crows	masitagosi pakaakwe
Crow, American	Crow	andek
Crow, American	Young crow	andekons
Curlew	Curlew	patashkanje
Dove, Mourning	Dove (domestic pigeon)	wabmimi; wab?minsi
Dove, Mourning	Turtle-dove	omimi
Dove, Mourning	Young turtle-dove	omimins
Down	Small soft feather (down); down (soft underfeather)	missegwanan
Duck	A kind of autumn duck	pikwakoshib
Duck	A large kind of duck	ininishib
Duck	A very fat duck	pakojishib
Duck	Another kind of duck	ansig; jingibiss; kinishtinokweshib; siamo; wakeiawishib
Duck	Beaver-duck	amikoshib
Duck	Duck	jishib
Duck	Duck with a long neck	ginogweiaweshib
Duck	Duck with a short neck	du-qua'-que-we'-shib
Duck	Duck; pigeon-tail (a kind of wild duck)	aawe
Duck	White duck	wabansig; wabininishb
Duck, American Black	Black duck	makateshib
Eagle	Another kind of eagle	wabijakwe
Eagle	Black eagle	missansi
Eagle	Eagle	migisi
Eagle	War-eagle	kiniw
Eagle	Young eagle	migisins
Egg	Egg	wanan
Egg	Gull's egg	guiashkwawan
Egg	Hen's egg	pakaakwewawan; pakaskwawawan
Egg	Hen's egg	pakaakwawawan
Egg	Small egg	wawanons
Egg shell	Shell of an egg	wawan anugaawana
Egg white	White of the egg	wabawan; wabishkag wawan
Egg yolk	Yolk of an egg	miskwawan; miskwawandjigan; osawag wawan; osawawan
Feather	Feather	migwan
Feather	Feather of a large bird	binessiwigwan
Feather	Feather of a small bird	binashiwigwan
Feather	I have a plume of feathers on my head	nin nimashkaige
Feather	Large feather	kitchigwunan
Feather	Plume of feathers	nimashkaigan; migwangena; patakibinweon
Feather	The bird is naked, has no feathers	pashkosi, papashkosi bineshi,
Feather	White feather	wabigwan
Flight	Flight	ojimowin
Flight	Flight (of birds); flying	bimissewin
Flight	The bird flies low	tabassisse bineshi
Flight	The bird flies quick	kijisse bineshi
Flight	The bird has his wings closed	nabwangeshka bineshi
Flight	The bird starts	pasigwao bineshi
Flock	The birds are together, by troops	bimaamog binessiwag
Fly	I fly up in the air	nind ombisse
Fly	It flies about	babamisse
Fly	It flies around	giwitasse
Fly	It flies from	ondjisse
Fly	It flies from	ondjibide
Fly	It flies hither	bidjibide; bidjisse
Fly	It flies in	pindigesse
Fly	It flies off (something)	madjibide
Fly	It flies out (a bird)	sagidjisse
Fly	It flies round	bijibasse
Fly	It flies up	ombibide
Goose	Another kind of wild goose	obijashkissi
Goose	Wild goose	nika
Goose, Snow	White goose	wabwewe
Grouse	Marsh-partridge	mashkodesse
Grouse	Partridge	bind
Grouse	The partridge shakes his wings	gwigwinguso bind
Grouse	Tree on which the partridge shakes his wings	gwigwingwaowatig
Grouse	Young partridge	bindus
Gull	Gull	guiashk
Gull	Young gull	gaiashkons
Hen	Hen	pakaakwe; ikwe-pakaakwe
Hunting ducks	I hunt ducks	nin nandoshibe; nin nodjishibe
Hunting partridge	I hunt partridge	nin nand abinewe
Hunting pigeons	I hunt pigeons	nin nandaomimi; nin nodjomimiwe
Jay	Jay	pikwakokweweshi
Jay, Gray	A kind of gray bird	okanisse
Junco, Dark-eyed	Snow-bird	wabaningosi
Kingfisher, Belted	Fisher (bird)	okishkimanisse
Kingfisher, Belted	Kingfisher (bird)	ogishkimanissi
Lapwing, Northern	Lapwing (bird)	meningwane
Lark	Lark	kikibikomeshi
Loon	Loon	mang
Loon	Young loon	mangons
Magpie	A kind of small magpie	gwingwishi
Magpie, Black-billed	Magpie	apishkagogi
Merganser	Saw-bill	ansig
Moult	The bird is moulting	pinigwane bineski
Nest	Nest	wasisswan
Nest	The bird builds its nest	wasisswanike bineshi
Osprey	Fish-hawk	mitchiyigwans
Owl	A kind of small owl	kokobo
Owl	A kind of small owl	gwengowia
Owl	Another kind of owl	peshkwe
Owl, Great Horned	Horned owl	wewendjigano
Pigeon, Passenger	Wild pigeon	omimi
Pigeon, Passenger	Young wild pigeon	omimine
Pigeon, Rock	Domestic pigeon	wabomemi
Pigeon, Rock	Young domestic pigeon	wabmimins
Plover	Plover (bird)	tchitchwishkiwe
Pluck	Pick; I pick a bird	nin pushkobina bineshi
Raptor	A kind of prey-bird	tehains
Raven, Common	Raven	kagagi
Screech-Owl, Eastern	Screetchowl	kakabishe
Shoveler, Northern	Spoonbill (bird)	jede
Snipe, Wilson's	Snipe	padashkaanji; manominikeshi
Song	The bird warbles	masitagosi bineshi; wiiagweweto
Swallow	Swallow (bird)	jashawanibissi
Swan	A kind of small swan	manabisi
Swan	Swan	wabisi
Swan	Young swan	wabisins
Tail	Tail of a bird	wanashkid
Tail	Tail of a large bird	binessi-wanashkid
Tail	Tail of a small bird	bineshi-wanishkid
Teal	Teal (duck)	sagataganishib; wewibingwange
Thrasher	Trasher [thrasher]	apagandaigewinini
Thrush	Thrush (bird)	opitchi
Turkey, Wild	Turkey (bird)	misisse
Turkey, Wild	Wild turkey	pagwadji-misisse
Turkey, Wild	Young turkey	misissens
Vulture, Turkey	Vulture	winange
Wing	Wing	ningwigan
Woodcock, American	Woodcock	padjashkaanji
Woodpecker	White wood-pecker	wabipapasse
Woodpecker	Wood-pecker	meme; pakweamo; papasse; bigwakokweoweshi

So notable here from this historic work worthy of special appreciation, is the array of various terms — active and passive, or, noun and verb — for different birds and related aspects of avian focus. The translative variety applies to the entire specter of daily living for the tribe. This was a rich language equivalent with the subtle nuances of any modern language.

The Indians readily knew a variety of fowl in their tribal area which is now part of upper Michigan, and though given in the lexicon, particulars on the species are lacking through some limitation in interpretation. Despite this, there are no other known dictionaries, which have such a variety of terms for egg, or for fly or flight, for example. There are obviously some vague definitions for terms that are just too limited to allow giving an identity for a particular type of bird species.

No other linguistic source mentioned the tree upon which the partridge shakes its wings, or the notable term, gwigwingwaowatig with its uncertain pronunciation unknown in an era more than 150 years beyond its inscription.

"Kijisse bineshi," would be a good exclamation for when particular birds are going low across the horizon.

Or, when doing a survey for a bird atlas project, the term "nimaige bineshi," would certainly be apropos to note an adult bird taking food to its young.

Considering the multitude of other terms within the dictionary, it seems it would be readily possible to write something using an interpreted understanding of the original Indian language. What an interesting endeavor this would be!

With the burgeoning publication of specific article on birds due to the arrival of various ornithological journals, W.W. Cooke paid particular attention to a somewhat focused nomenclature. His list issued in 1884, in the first volume of the Auk, was prepared from knowledge of the Chippewa of White Earth, Minnesota, gained from a three years' residence. The introductory text indicated that the tribal members knew more about species present in the winter — when birds were scarce — than during the summer. The men of the tribe were recognized for an extraordinary skill in identifying ducks in flight at a distance. The birds also were recognized for their importance in tribal mythology for youngsters.

Term Designation	Given Term	Native Term
Bittern, American	American bittern	mosh-ka-was-shi
Bittern, Least	Least bittern; the bird that looks at the sun	ga-na-wa'-bi-mo-gi'-zis-si-swesh'-in
Blackbird	Blackbird	as-sig'-g-nak
Blackbird, Red-winged	Red-winged blackbird; red-shouldered bird	me'-mis-ko-di'-ni-mang-a-ne'-shi
Blackbird, Yellow-headed	Yellow-headed blackbird; little Sioux blackbird	bwan-ence'-as-sig'-gi-nak
Bluebird, Easter	Bluebird, the blue colored bird; blue colered bird	o-zou-wash'-ko-bi-ne'-shi
Bobolink	Bobolink; Chicago bird; skunk bird, from the white stripe down back	shi-ka'-go-bi-ne'-shi
Brant	Brant	we'-we
Bufflehead	Butterball; shot eater, because it is so hard to hit	wa-ke'-i-a'-wi-shib'
Bunting, Snow	Snow bunting; morning star bird	wa'-bu-nong-o'-zi
Catbird, Gray	Catbird	ma-ma'-dwe-bi-ne'-shi
Chickadee, Black-capped	Black-capped chickadee	kitch'-i-kitch-i-ga'-ne-shi
Coot, American	American coot; legs hanging down behind	a'-tchi-ga-deg'
Cormorant, Double-crested	Double-crested cormorant; raven duck	ka-gog'-i-shib
Cowbird, Brown-headed	Cowbird; small blackbird	a-ga'-jid-as-sig'-gi-nak
Crane, Sandhill	Sandhill crane	a-gi-gak'
Crane, Whooping	Whooping crane	wab'-a-gi-gak'
Crossbill	Crossbill; having a crossed bill	a'-ji-de-ko-ne'-shi
Crow, American	Crow	an-deg'
Cuckoo	Cuckoo	pi-gua-o-ko'-que-o-we'-shi
Dove, Mourning	Mourning dove; tame dove; white pigeon	wa'-ba-mi'-mi
Duck	Duck; a beaver duck	a-mik'-o-shib
Duck, American Black	Black mallard; black duck	muk-ud-e'-shib
Duck, Ring-billed	Ring-billed blackhead; fall duck	tu-gua'-go-shib
Duck, Wood	Wood Duck	si-a-mo'
Eagle, Bald	Bald eagle	mi'-gi-zi
Eagle, Bald	Man eagle	ini'-ni-zi
Eagle, Golden	Golden eagle; war eagle of the Chippewas	gi-neu'
Flicker, Northern	Yellow-shafted flicker; bird with dirty colored wings	mo-ning'-gua-ne'
Golden-Plover, American	Golden plover; yellow crane sandpiper	o-za'-wa-gi'-gak-o-chu-is-ki-wen'
Goldeneye, Common	American golden-eye; arrow duck	mud-we-ang'-ge-shib; pi-kwa'-ko-shib
Goldfinch, American	American goldfinch	bi-yung'
Goose, Canada	Canada Goose	ni-ka'
Goose, Greater White-fronted	White-fronted goose	a-pish'-ni-ka'
Goose, Snow	Snow goose; suspect it is the snow goose	ma'-na-bi-si
Goshawk, Northern	Goshawk	ki-bwan'-i-si
Grackle, Common	Purple grackle; big blackbird	chi-as-sig-gi-nak
Grebe, Horned or Eared Grebe	Horned grebe, or eared grebe; big diver	kitch'-i-shin'-gi-bis
Grebe, Pied-billed	Thick-billed grebe	shin'-gi-bis
Grosbeak, Evening	Evening grosbeak	pash-kan'-da-mo
Grosbeak, Pine	Pine grosbeak	o-ka-nis'-se
Grouse	Grouse	bi-ne'
Grouse, Ruffed	Ruffed grouse	wen'-gi-da-bi-ne'
Grouse, Spruce	Canada Grouse; prairie bird	mus-ko-de'-se
Gull and terns	Gulls and terns	kai-osk'
Harrier, Northern	Marsh hawk; snake hunter	o-no'-gi-gi-neb-i-que'-si
Hawk	Cooper's hawk and sharp-shinned hawk	ke-kek'
Hawk	Hawk	ke-kek'
Hawk, Cooper's	Cooper's hawk; hairy hawk	mish'-i-ke-kek
Hawk, Red-tailed	Red-tailed Hawk; small red hawk	mis'-qua-na-ni'-si
Hawk, Rough-legged	Rough-legged hawk; black hawk	mu-ku-de'-ke-kek'
Hawk, Swainson's	Swainson's hawk	tchai-ince'
Heron, Great Blue	Great blue heron	shu-shu'-ga
Hummingbird, Ruby-throated	Ruby-throated hummer	non-o-ka'-si
Jay, Blue	Blue jay	jan-di'-si
Jay, Gray	Canada jay	guin-gui'-shi
Junco, Dark-eyed	Black snowbird	bu-te'-shi-wish
Kestrel, American	Sparrow hawk	pi-pi'-gi-wi-zance'
Killdeer	Killdeer; big prairie sandpiper	mus-ko-de'-chi-chi-ji'-twish-ki-wen'
Kingbird, Eastern	Kingbird; cannibal bird	win'-di-go-bi-ne-shi
Kingfisher, Belted	Kingfisher	o-gish'-ki-mun-is-si'
Kite, Swallow-tailed	Swallow-tailed kite; big swallow	kitch'-i-shau-shau'-won-ni-bi'-si
Lark, Horned	Shore lark; yellow snow bunting	o-za'-wa-wa'-bu-nong-o'-zi
Loon	Loon	mang
Magpie, Black-billed	Magpie	a-pish'-ka-gog-i'
Mallard	Mallard; female mallard; white mallard	wab'-i-ni-ni-shib'
Mallard	Mallard; man duck	i-ni'-ni-shib'
Martin, Purple	Purple martin; black swallow	mu-ke-de'-shau-shau'-wun-ni-bi'-si
Merganser	Sheldrakes	an'-zig
Merganser, Common	American Sheldrake; big sheldrake	kitch-i-an'-zig
Merganser, Hooded	Hooded sheldrake; sharp-billed duck	gi-ni-ko-ne'-shib
Merganser, Red-breasted	Red-breasted merganser; yellow sheldrake	o-ga-wan'-zig
Nighthawk, Common	Nighthawk	besh-que'
Nuthatch, Red-breasted	Red-bellied nuthatch	ki-ki-bi'-di-ko-me'-shi
Nuthatch, White-breasted	White-bellied nuthatch	chi-chi-ga'-nam-da-we'-shi
Oriole, Baltimore	Baltimore oriole; poplar or willow bird	wa-do'-pi-bi-ne'-shi
Osprey	Fish hawk	mi'-gi-ki-qua-ne'
Owl	Owl	o-ko'-ko-ko-o'
Owl, Barn	Barn owl	bo'-du-wi-dom-be'
Owl, Barred	Barred owl	wen'-gi-du-ko-ko-ko-o'
Owl, Great Gray	Great gray owl	we-wen'-gi-ga-no'
Owl, Great Horned	Great horned owl	o-tow'-i-ge-o-ko'-ko-ko-o'
Owl, Snowy	Snowy Owl	wa'-bi-o-ko'-ko-o'
Pelican	Pelican, both species	she'-de
Pigeon, Passenger	Pigeon	o-mi'-mi
Pintail, Northern	Pintail; long-necked duck	kin-o-gua'-ya-we-shib
Prairie-Chicken, Greater	Prairie hen	a-gusk'
Raven, Common	American raven	ka-gog-i'
Redhead	Redhead; big fall duck	kitch'-i-tu-gua'-go-shib
Robin, American	American robin	o-pi'-che
Sandpiper	Sandpiper	ji-twish'-ki-wen
Scaup	Scaup ducks; spirit ducks	ma'-ni-do-shib'
Screech-Owl, Eastern	Little screech owl	ka-kab'-i-shi
Shoveler, Northern	Shoveller; shovelling duck	ma-da-i-ga'-ni-shib
Shrike, Northern	Shrike; big cannibal bird	kitch'-i-win'-di-go-bi-ne'-shi
Snipe, Wilson's	Wilson's snipe	pa-dash'-ka-an'-ja
Sora	Sora rail; rice bird	mo-no'-min-i-kesh-i'
Sparrow, Song	Song sparrow	kos-kos-ko-ni'-chi
Swallow	All other swallows; little bird that tumbles over and over in the air	shau-shau'-wun-ni-b-sence'
Swan	Swan; white bird	wa'-bi-si
Swift, Chimney	Chimney swift; wooden quills, in allusion to the stiff tail-feathers	me-mit'-to-go-ning-gue-ga-ne'-si
Tanager, Scarlet	Scarlet tanager	o-da'-gi-na-ma ne'-shi
Teal, Blue-winged	Blue-winged duck	we-wi'-bing-guang-ge'
Teal, Green-winged	Green-winged Teal; spunk duck; also called big teal	sug-gu-ta'-ka-ni-shib
Thrasher, Brown	Brown thrush; big thrush	chi'-a-nuk'
Thrush, Swainson's	Thrush, olive-backed	a-nuk'
Towhee, Eastern	Towhee bunting; black thrush	muk-ud-e'-ai-a'-nuk
Turkey, Wild	Turkey	mi-sis'-si
Veery	Wilson's thrush	an-wak'
Vulture, Turkey	Turkey buzzard; dirty wing	wi-nong'-a
Warbler, Black-throated Blue	Black-throated blue warbler	o-ja'-wa-no
Warbler, Yellow	Summer yellowbird	o-za'-wa-bi-ne'-shi
Waxwing, Bohemian	Bohemian waxwing; crested bird	o-ze'-gi-ban-wan'-i-shin
Waxwing, Cedar	Cedar waxwing; the bird that is king or chief	o'-gi-ma-bi-ne'-shi
Whip-poor-will	Whippoorwill	gwen-go-wi-a'
Woodcock, American	Woodcock; big snipe	kitch'-i-pa-dash'-ka-an'-ja
Woodpecker	Hairy and downy woodpecker	pa-pa'-se
Woodpecker, Pileated	Pileated woodpecker	me'-me
Woodpecker, Red-headed	Red-headed woodpecker	pa-que-a-mo'
Wren, House	House wren	o-du-na'-mis-sug-ud-da-we'-shi
Wren, Marsh	Marsh wren	mus-ko'-zi-bi-ne'-shi

This is a profound, scholarly work with importance beyond the time of its origin.

During the same era, another study of the Chippewa tribal language was underway by someone with the most intimate knowledge of the tribe and its lexicon. The history on the Ottawa and Chippewa of Michigan written by Andrew J. Blackbird, whose father was Macka-de-pe-nessy, or Black-hawk, which should have been the proper last name for Andrew. He attended a couple of educational institutions in the 1850s, but his degree was based on his life experiences, not from a piece of paper from some institution.

This selection provides the final portion of the tribal language being considered.

Term Designation	Given Term	Native Term
Bird	Bird	pe-nay-shen
Crane	Crane	au-dje-djawk
Crow, American	Crow	awn-dayg
Duck	Duck	she-sheb
Eagle	Eagle	wing-ge-zee
Grouse	Partridge	pe-nay
Gull	Gull	kaw-yawshk
Hawk	Hawk	pe-nay-se
Jay, Blue	Bluejay	tchin-dees
Loon	Loon	mong
Pigeon, Passenger	Pigeon	o-me-me
Prairie-Chicken, Greater	Prairie hen	ke-wo-nee
Robin, American	Robin	au-pe-tchi
Thrasher, Brown	Thrasher	au-nawk
Turkey, Wild	Turkey	me-zhe-say
Woodcock, American	Woodcock	may-may
Woodpecker	Woodpecker	paw-paw-say

This set of terms reveals — once again — a number of the most typical bird species of the tribal area, which was the area of Harbor Springs, where Mr. Blackbird was the postmaster in 1858, and the same area where he was born.

Wonders of the Chippeway Tribe

The terminology opens a new realm for the native language given in bird history, which could readily be a focus of study for time undefined, depending only on someone's particular interest. Tribal terms for quilt, for sewing, for knitting, are even included for those which may have an interest in this type of an indoor endeavor. The words, given in two variations — tribal to English and English to tribal — are a sublime work of scholarly work far beyond the basic responsibilities of a missionary.

The terms given here are an addition to the terms previously presented from other sources that convey this aspect of bird history. This particular instance of bird lore from more than a century in the past, or basically times long forgotten except for treasured annals of history, can be readily appreciated since someone took the time to write it down and get it into print of some manner so it can be easily remembered and reviewed.

This terminology ellicits a new appreciation for the appreciation of the birds during the endless centuries they have been known by people of the continental lands.