Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-06
A GREAT CRANE ROOST.
An Island Of the Coast Of Georgia a
Safe Resort for the Fowl.

Visitors to Daufuskie Island during the
summer tell of the roosting and brooding
places OF the cranes on the island. Storks,
cranes and bitterns spend the day along the
estuaries OF the seacoast and wade and fly
over the miles and miles of salt marshes
Along about 4 o'clock in the afternoon they
begin to collect in the matted shrubbery and
underground of Daufuskie Island for the night.
They fly singly, by pairs, and in focks ranging
from twenty-five to fifty.
A gentleman who was NARROWING on the
island few days ago said that he was lgnor-
ant OF the habits of the sea fowl, and one
evening, near twilight, he was returning to
his quarters, and when passing near dense
thicket he heard a great chattering and
many Of the voices sounded like that of
humans. Resting on his gun he listened at
tentively and finally came to the conclusion
that 1t was colony of cranes. He threw a
stick into the thicket, when, with wild
few out circled about a while, and, having
recovered from their fright, settled down
again from sight, still keeping up their chatter
and clatter.
Capt W. j. Thompson says the cranes find in
the dense underground of some parts of the
island secure and almost unapproachabIe re-
treat from intrusion, and there they lay their
eggs and rear their broods of young. Few
people have the temerity to invade the thicket
to disturb eggs or young birds, for it is not
only home for the cranes but paradise for
rattlers and moccasins, which are the only enc
mics that make much Roadway against the
cranes. It is said, however, that one or two
summers ago daring hunter with difficulty
forced an entrance into the thicket and carried
of three barrels Of eggs, for which he fou nd a
ready market in Savannah at the price Of hens
eggs, for which he sold them, but, as the eggs
are highly priced by epicures, he might have
more than quadrupled his money if he had
shipped them north. The experience was so
perilous and difficult, however, that no one
has ventured into the thickets to disturb the
nests since.
The young cranes are now pretty well hedged
and most of them have taken to looking out for
themselves. Before leaving the nest the parent
birds bring them small fish, often from q great
shot crane on the island few days ago said
that she mad nearly two hundred small min
nows In her pouch. As tie young grow older
larger fish are caught by the parent birds,
which are carried in their bills; and the fish
eagle watches the fight Of the stork and crane
and often pursues, forces the frightened bird
TO drop the prey, and, with unerring descent,
the fish eagle catches the fish before il reaches
the water or the ground.
The cranes 60 further south on the approach
| OF cold weather, but II the winter is an open
| and mild one they do not all migrate, and their
tall forms and snow-white plumage are often
| seen in winter through the heritage Of the
marshes liks picture.
The crane IL pursued vigorously by the
hunter, who finds Q ready market for the plum.
age, as the snow-white feathers are popular
with the women of fashion, and plumage deal.
ers in New York have hunters regularly en-
ployed at q salary in the south, Florida and
along the Atlantic and gulf coasts Of the PENN.
sula, and all through the almost impenetra BILE
iagoons and bayous Of the everglades, who
keep up the warfare upon the birds OF plumage
and song all through the winter, and this fact
has led to the agitation Of the question whether
q rigid law should not be passed TO punish by
fines and penalties all who are convicted OF
shooting any birds except those which are edi.
| ble