The Indianapolis leader., 1880-05-15
WILD PIGEONS IN MICHIGAN.
The Flight Of Millions Toward The North
How They Build Their Nests,

The Flight Of Millions Toward The North :
How They Build Their Nests,
Correspondence Of the Detroit Post, April. 2s.I
Something more than four weeks ago the
biennial fight of pigeons to the woods Of
Northern Michigan, for which the hunters
had long been watching, commenced. These
birds on their journeyings from the South to
the far North stop every two years for two
or three nestings in Michigan usually coming
in immense numbers, On the alternate
years. when teech-nuts are not abundant in
this State they take some other course in their
their northward fight. 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
B ,nzie and Emmet Counties Two years
ago they skipped both Oceana and Benzie
Counties and nested first in Emmet, near
Petoskey. This year their first fight was to
the same section, but they soon discovered
that they had been fooled by the warm
weather further South. The weather about
Petoskey was still cold, the bay was frozen
ever, the snow was deep in the woods, the
prospect for good feeding was bad, and after
day or two Of apparent irresolution aud
many erratic fights the birds, as If by com
m On consent, took their course to the neigh.
bOrhood of Platte River in Benzie County
As local publication stated at the time,
"they came in clouds, millions upon milliOns
1t 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 an area Of more
than fifteen miles in length and six to eight
miles wide, and the prospect for 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 1900 hunters
vaded the country from all directions, sur
rounding and penetrating the nesting |
grounds.
1t was noticed, however, by old hunters
that the birds did not settle down to domes
tic life as quickly as usual. The roosting
birds-that is, those who had not vet mated |
the nesting birds hundred |
to one. Some of the more Jealous and in
considerate 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
falls far short in magnitude Of
what was at first expected, though still large
n area and containing millions of birds. It
scattered along the banks of the Platte
River, in the Townships of Almira. ICELAND,
md Homestead The distsnce from one
md to the other is over ten miles, and
he width varies from a few rods to
hree or four miles. There are, however,
long distances between the two ex-
remes where no nests are to be found, and
he birds have occasionally changed their
round, 80 that many Of the hunters them
elves are very uncertain as to the exact
of the birds at the present time.
n the nests first made the young are about
eady to fly, and have been abandoned by
he old birds and in some places, owing to
he winds and the constant shooting the
tests have been deserted before any birds
we're Matched.
One nesting is aboat the same as another,
nd the first nest you come to like the mil
ion others in the County. When these mi
ratory birds have mated, decided where to
ettle, and have staked off their claim, they
roceed at once to construct about the slight
st nest tina. will hold an egg and bird.
Three sticks and feather" constitute about
he material, according to recent visitor
ere. The feathers is often wanting, but few
oore sticks are generally added The nest is
laced in the crotch of tree, on two forked
ranches, or anywhere else in the tree where
uitable support can be found. Cedar trees
long the river bottoms seem to be preferred,
ut when the nestings are large, beech and
tber trees are occupied. From half q dozen
D fifty or sixty nests are. built in tree, and
nly one epp is laid in each nest