Large flocks of wild pigeons infest the country west of the river. They visit the wheat fields in such numbers that in some places there is great destruction of grain. Fears are entertained that the ripening oat crop will suffer from their depredation to such an extent as to reduce the yield to almost nothing. The farmers are hauling up the wheat preparatory to threshing or stacking it to save the grain from the greedy craws of these young robbers. — Doniphan Prospect.
July 15, 1874. [Large flocks of wild pigeons infest Missouri country.] Jackson Missouri Cash-Book 3(51): 2.