The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-09-21
From AudubOn'S Trauels
AN AMERICAN PIGEON ROOST

AAN EhlNAN L.
was in portion of the forest, where the
trees were of great magnitude, and where there
was little underwood | rode through it up
wards of forty miles, and crossing it in different
parts, found its average breadth to be rather
more than three miles. My first view oft was
about fortnight subsequent to the period
When the pigeons first made choice of it, and
arrived there nearly two hours before sunset
Few pigeons were then to be seen, but a great
number OF persons, with horses and wagons,
guns and ammunition, had already established
encampments on the borders. Two farmers
from the vicinity of Russelsville, distant more
than hundred miles, had driven upwards of
three hundred hogs to be fattencd on the pig
cons which were to be slaughtered Here
and there, the people employed in plucking and
sailing what had already been procured, were
seen sitting in the midst of large piles of thes
birds. The dung lay several inches deep, COW
eTlng the whole extent of the roasting place,
IKE bed OF snow. Many trees two feet in di-
atieter' observed, were broken off at no great
distance irota the ground, and the branches Of
many OF the largest and tallest had given way,
as Ii the forest sad been swept away by tor
hauo' Every Thing proved TO me that the mum.
Der OF BIRDS resorting TO this part of the forest
must be immense beyond Conception As the
period OF their arrival approached, their foes
anxlously prepared to receive them. Some
were furnished with iron pots containing sui
Phur, others with torches Of pine knots, many
with poles, and the rest with guns The sun
was iost 10 our view, yet not a pigeon had ar
rived. Every thing was ready, and all eyes
gazing upon the clear sky, which appeared in
ghmpses amid the tail trees Suddenly there
burst tU, forth general cry of" Here they come"
i ne noise which they made, though vet dis.
uaht' reminded me of hard gale at sea, pas.
si9 'nrough the rigging of close .reefed ves-
1 1. As lhe oirds arrived and passed over me,
ilott current oil air that surprised me- Thous
ands were knocked down by the nole.men-
The birds continued to pour in. The fras wars
! lighted, and magnificent, US well az wander.
lul and almost terrifying sight presented itself
The pigeons arrv ing by thousands, aHnhted
every where, one above another, until solid
masses as large as hogsheads were formed on
the branches all around. Here and there the
Perches gave way under the weight with a
crash, and falling to the ground DESTROYED
hundreds of the birds beneath, forcing down
the dense groups with which every stick was
loaded. 1t was scene Of uproar and confu.
sion. found it quite useless to speak or even
10 shout TO those persons who were nearest to
me. Even the reports ofthe guns were seldom
hearo, and was made aware Of The firing only
Dv seeing the shooters re-loading. No one
dare venture within the line of devastation.
The hogs had been penned up in due time, the
picking up of the dead and wounded, being
lett for the next mornings employment. The
pigeons were constantly coming, and it was
past midnight before perceived decrease in
the number Of those who arrived
The upronr continued the whole night ard
as was anxious to know to what distance the
sound reached, | sent off man, accustomed to
preambulate the forest, who, returning Two
hours afterwards, informed me he had heard it
three miles distant from the spot Towards
the approach of day, the noise in some meas.
uro subsidized, and long before objects were dis.
,inguishabe, the pigeons began TO move off in
a direction quite different from that in which
they had arrived the evening before, and at
sunrise, all that were able to fly had disappear
ed. The howlings of the wolves now reached
our ears, and the foxes, lynxes, cougars, bears,
racoons, Oppossums, and pole-cats, were seen
sneaking off, whilst eagles and hawks of differ
ent species, accompanied by crowd of vul
lures, came to snpplant them, and enjoy their
share oftae spoil.