Virginia News - Wild Pigeons in the Woods

The woods about Petersburg and in Chesterfield county are filled with wild pigeons. Many have been killed in the last few days.

October 19, 1868. State news. Native Virginian 1(48): 2.

Great Virginia Pigeon Roost

Sportsmen are now having an exciting time in Buckingham county, Va. A correspondent, writing under date of the 16th ult., describes the great "pigeon roost" on the old furnace lands near Canton. He says:

"The area of the roost is four square miles, and to one who never saw a sight of the kind it is truly amazing. From one hour of sun until night the air is darkened with countless thousands of the birds flying from all directions (south of the river) inward to the roost. There is a grandeur indescribable in the mournful sounds of rushing wings as the trackless armies, marshaled in the "viewless wind," come sweeping to their bivouac. But the evening sight is not to be compared to that of the morning when the pigeons are leaving the roost. Rising upwards from the bushes like columns of blue smoke, the rays of the morning sun paint them with rainbow tints, and a canopy overshadows the woods like the sulphurous clouds above the battlefield. Wheeling in great divisions in the air, they divide, each army to its leader, and the heavens grow lighter as they disappear to refill their craws with acorns."

February 24, 1872. [Great Virginia pigeon roost.] Charleston Daily News 11(1912): 2. Also: February 28, 1872 in Daily Phoenix issued at Columbia, S.C.; March 7, 1872 in Waynesboro Village Record 24(40): 2.

Wild Pigeons in Virginia

Aldie, Va., March 21.

My dear P. — More than twenty years ago Charles Kelly was Sheriff of Independence County, in the state of Arkansas. He resided on his farm in the Oil Trough bottom, some twenty miles below Batesville, in which last place he had a store. One morning, just after his leaving town for his farm, Egner, who attended to his store, discovered an entry on the blotter, which he tried in vain to decypher — a charge of 'twenty-five cents' could be made out, but against whom he could not tell. I with others was called to his aid, but it was no go. During the day, John L. Daniel, who had lived some time with Kelly as his deputy, came into the store, and the entry was shown him. 'Why,' says Daniel, after looking at it, 'it is very easy to make that out — it is Izekiel Burris,' Well, we knocked under, though nobody knew such a man, but supposed it some non-resident that Kelly had charged with two bits worth of tones. In the course of the week Kelly came to town. Egner referred him to the entry, and asked what it was. 'Why,' says Kelly, 'it is a quart of huckleberries, that I purchased and charged myself with.'

I introduce this anecdote, my dear P., by way of reminding you that I am made to say I caught a codfish in White river. the word I used was couple, and had reference to trout. Why, my dear fellow, I never caught a codfish in my life. The nearest I ever came to it was drinking two bottles of Cod-liver Oil, for a shocking bad cough.

Wild pigeons have been caught by hundreds since I last wrote you. I have attended a net on two occasions, and can endorse it as being most delightful sport. Nothing can be more simple than the process. Selecting a favorite point, generally a field in which was corn last year, is preferred — a blind is built out of corn-stalks. There are two posts placed in the ground, about four feet high — the one in the blind, the other at a distance of some eighty paces — a rope, the size of an ordinary plough line, extends from the top of the poles — the net is about forty feet in length, and ten in width — at a distance of some forty or fifty yards from the blind the net is fastened length-wise to this rope — and at the distance of the width of the net from a right line between the poles, the other side of the net is fastened in the ground by two small stakes, at either end, with shoulders to them — there are a couple of treadles about three feet long, which rest on the ground, the other ends pass under the shoulders of the stakes, and a shoulder or notch in the opposite ends of them receive the rope which holds the net. It is then set and piled up ready to be sprung — the bait is made, a stool pigeon is placed near it — his eyes are sewed up, and he sits on a pole, at the end of which is made a place as large as the crown of a hat — he is tied there, and a pulley reaching to a blind controls him. As the pigeons appear he is played by the pulley — there are also flyers, these consist of pigeons with their eyes sewed up, and attached to long cords, at one end of which is a light brush — they are thrown up to attract the pigeons as they fly over. It is truly exciting sport. George McCouty has caught some 1600, and has used but one stool pigeon — an old hen, decidedly the greatest pigeon in these diggings. Many others beside McCouty have been catching them. I think I may safely say, there have been more than ten thousand caught in this neighborhood. Hawks are sometimes troublesome customers — some years since one of them made a dash at a stool pigeon, the net was sprung on him, but not in time to save the pigeon. the keeper of the net was so much enraged at the loss of his favorite pigeon, that he picked all the feathers but those on the wings from the hawk, and sewing up his eyes and another part not to be mentioned, he turned him loose. They do say, he went like no blue streak.

Truly yours, N.

March 30, 1850. New York Spirit of the Times; A chronicle of the Turf, Agriculture, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage 20(6): 1.

Miles and Clouds of Pigeons

The Wheeling (Va.) Intelligencer of the 13th ult. says:

"Yesterday morning the sky here was almost black at intervals for several hours with flocks of pigeons going north. We saw one flock which, from the time it took to pass, must have been over a mile long. They flew so near the earth that they could easily have been shot on the wing, and made in their rapid flight a noise like the 'voice of many waters.' They doubtless came from the immense pigeon roosts in Kentucky and Tennessee, where for some time past the woods have been breaking beneath them."

The Columbus (Ohio) papers inform us that the upper air in that region is darkened by miles upon miles of pigeons. There is a great odor of pigeons about the place. Men kill pigeons, eat pigeons, sleep on pigeon suppers, and dream of pigeons — people's teeth are wearing out in chewing pigeons, people's eyes are growing inflamed looking at pigeons, and people's brains are becoming fuddled in contemplating the endless panorama of pigeons. The 'frogs of Egypt' once upon a time, were sparse in comparison with the pigeons that overwhelm the interior of the State.

March 2, 1854. [Miles and clouds of pigeons.] Jeffersonian 14(17): 2.

Wild Pigeons in Virginia

Wild pigeons are numerous near Winchester, Va.

September 28, 1854. [Wild pigeons in Virginia.] Jeffersonian 14(46): 2.

Pigeons in Great Numbers in Spotsylvania County

The Fredericksburg (Va.) Herald states that wild pigeons in great numbers have made their appearance in Spotsylvania county. The forests in the neighborhood of Dr. J.E. Chancellor's, Catharine Furnace, &c., seem to be alive with these swift winged visitors. The favorite point for roosting appears to be in the vicinity of Catharine Furnace, between the route of the Fredricksburg and Gordonsville Railroad, and the Plank Road.

March 15, 1855. Wild pigeons. Washington D.C. Evening Star 5(685): 3.

Wild Pigeons in Falling Rivers Territory of Campbell County

A letter from Campbell county, Virginia, states that probably 100,000 pigeons have been recently in one section of the county. The locality on which these birds are found is the territory between the Little and Big Falling rivers, in Campbell county. The Union Hill church is about the central point and head quarters. They come into camp by thousands at night, and go in armies into the surrounding country for acorns. Their numbers are not diminishing, but are represented as rather increasing. They have already occupied this ground for months. Two hundred men and boys are sometimes found in pursuit of the birds in the night time, within the limits of the pigeon camp.

February 18, 1858. Wild pigeons. Jeffersonian 18(9): 2. Also in Lebanon Advertiser 9(34): 3. Issued February 17, 1858. Also: February 9, 1858 in the Southern Recorder 39(6): 2; as well as in the American Volunteer.

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A correspondent of the Lynchburg Virginian, writing from Hat Creek, Campbell county, says: "Probably 100,000 pigeons have been killed in this pigeon war. The number of feather beds the thrifty housewives have put up, and are putting up, from the most excellent feathers from these birds, can hardly be told. They come into their camp by the thousands at night, and leave with the morning light, and go out in armies into the surrounding country for acorns. Their numbers are not diminishing — they are increasing. They have already occupied this ground for months. — Two hundred men and boys are sometimes found in pursuit of the birds in the night time, within the limits of this pigeon camp. There is great sport; the best of oyster suppers are sometimes served up on this pigeon ground."

February 26, 1858. Pigeons. Liberty Tribune 12(46): 2.

Duck Shooting at Cobb's Island in 1880

Baltimore, Jan. 31. — Dear Spirit: I send herewith a brief recital of a gunning excursion recently enjoyed by two of Baltimore's well-known sportsmen, Messrs. G.A. Rasch and J.W. Snyder. These gentlemen have been for some time noted for the precision and accuracy of their shooting, and their recent exploits add fresh laurels to their reputation. So decidedly successful and fortunate were there gentlemen that I feel assured these lines will be acceptable to your host of readers who may be interested in sporting affairs. Messrs. Rasch and Snyder left our city Tuesday of last week, and returned Friday morning of the present week. Deducting the time expended in traveling and the Sabbath of rest, about six days were employed in manipulating their breech-loaders. The result of their fusillade among the ranks of black mallards, brant, and geese was a grand and gratifying aggregate of 109 ducks and ten wild geese, which were distributed among their many friends. This is the "biggest" week's shooting that has been executed in the vicinity by any other brace of hunters, amateur or professional. Your readers interested in ducking will doubtless wish to know where such sport was obtained, and by what means the locality can be reached. I would, therefore, state in reply to such implied interrogatories that the place visited by these gentlemen was the well-known spot in Northampton County, Va., which is classically known as Cobb's Island. This island is situated in the waters of the Atlantic, and is in the neighborhood of 200 miles from our city. During the summer the hotel is well and largely patronized, but during the winter is but little frequented save by occasional gunning parties. The islanders are a hardy, obliging, and accommodating people, and do everything in their power to render the stay of strangers pleasant and agreeable. I would especially commend Mr. E.B. Cobb, "a native here and to the manner born," and Capt. C.H. Crumb, of the Life Saving Station, as gentlemen whose courtesy is as genial as their kindness is proverbial. As before mentioned, the island is but little frequented during the winter months; in consequence of this the hotel is not at present in operation, but a most excellent substitute is supplied by Messrs. Melson and Isdell. These gentlemen are the proprietors of a large packet, gunning boats, blinds, decoys, etc. Gunning parties find good, safe, and abundant accommodations on board the packet, and are transported to and from the ducking haunts by Messrs. Melson and Isdell. In consequence of having such good accommodations, convenient accessories, and thoroughly informed guides, it is no great matter of surprise that gunners invariably return from the island abundantly supplied with the game and exceedingly well pleased with their trip. It is a matter of surprise though, that the bang of more guns is not heard awakening the echoes of the ocean island. The fascination of duck-shooting, the certainty of success, and the pleasures of such a trip should be enough to make Cobb's Island the Mecca of our sportsmen. Having already trespassed too much upon your valuable space, I'll now close these rambling lines.

Uno

February 7, 1880. Traps and Triggers. Duck shooting in Maryland. New York Spirit of the Times 99(1): 9.

August Night at Richmond Filled With Wildbirds

A story from the August 18, 1871 issue of the Daily State Journal, has interesting details on a multitude of birds during the night at Richmond, Virginia.

"The City Filled With Birds Last Night

For several hours last night the city was filled with birds of different kinds, which, attracted by the lights in the different parts of the city, battered their heads against the lamps and windows as if seeking shelter from the cause which drove them here.

About 9 o'clock we heard numbers of them singing, and from the sound supposed they were passing overhead.

At the Monumental hotel, several gentlemen, occupying the front portico, while being entertained by the music of the birds, were astonished to see a bird of the crane species, commonly known as the 'fly-up-the-creek," make a dart at one of the windows, striking his head violently against the glass. So persistent was he to effect an entrance that he remained until captured, rather than go away.

A bee-martin was caught in the street near the Valentine house and killed by a cruel boy.

Will some of our wise men tell us what drove the thousands of birds into the city last night?"

The "crane species" was the Green Heron and the bee-martin would be the Eastern Kingbird.

Reader Reply

A reply in the August 22 issue, provided a local perspective on the event, according to "Sop."

"The sudden and violent storm of last night, accompanied with hail, undoubtedly confused them, and in flying low to the ground to regain their course, lost in the confusion of the storm, some few were blinded by the city lights and came down. I listened attentively for a couple of hours last night and recognized the well known notes to me of many of our migrating species, which I have never heard before. But this is not a single instance of the flight having been forced down. I know, from my own experience, of many instances."