New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-01
THE CROWS OF OMAHA.
UTILIZED AS sCAvENGERs AND WEATHER
PROPHETS

Omaha Neb Nov. % (specian.-An article has
been going the rounds Of the press regarding the great
scavengers OF this city-the The article IS
correct but II does not tell oneha OF the pecula7es
of the situation. The homo Of the crows. or 10 put
10 more correctly, their roost, Is on the island,"
sandbar of thirty or forty located about
one mile north OF this city. 1t is cut of from the
river by change in the channel and although on 'he
west side OF the river IL lies within the Iowa boundary
This island is covered with thick underground ana oy
willow and water birch trees OF several years grown
Here the crows been congregating for number OF
years past During the daytime there are out Jew
30 be seen about the Island except scattering con-
tngent seemnglys left behind TO act as sentineiS'
But from shutdown sunrise ther are thousands upon
thousands of them the island and until the e.auee
of nigh, finally close the commoton about the place
is exceedingly great AS as daylight appears the
noise begins again, each particular crow seeming '"
olarnor his worry loudest as with the object OF re
ducing his neehbor to silence. Then az the sun
upresrs his head over the bluffs the rooSt oreaAs
ND into small parties Of about score, whlch start
of 10 all directions to forage. some Oh l"o 0io"'
spend the day In the back yards and alleys OF t9e Guy
and even In the streets OF the quieer parts anu NAN
away with all kinds of edible refuse. IN iact' leS
are the most careful scaven gers tho CITY has anu e
local authorities have recognized their services IN 's
particular by placing the satuteoooks law nNa-
ing sacred the life Of the crows and upho,oihs @eN
cawsn In letter well as in spirit
Others OF the crows visit South Omaha win inc
same intent The packing houses thee, however, TURN
out littae refuse as pretty nearly everything except
ing tbe horns OF the steer and the squea OF tie po
Il utilized on the spot Other parties OF birds III
wade the surrounding country for miles around 70
come back again at night 70 their favonte rooS's-
place.
.Jere Hill an old character who lives In small
house on the northern part Of the Slanh mas louuu
a new use FOR the crows. long ard persistent suny
Of their habits and instincts has convinced MN tha'
the crow is the most competent and reliable "eathcr
prophet IN existence. Hin told the writer SNORT
time ago that he could tell what the weather was
going TO be twcnyIouT o. :oriyelght hours ahead az
easily as though he had the fun signal service re-
ports In fact lie says lie has surer information man
the signal Service men, for thcy frequently err wnle
his crowe never fail to tell the truth. ny saIn
he every time have cOld east Storm %. ~
selves over the hill yonder mo on nD
sheltered Pap'o Valley, ard they VIII rHdl1
there until the backbone of the storm Is broheh anu
then back, telling me that cIearlns go, -
Ing from the west or northwest they VIII move scrOs
the river and take up quarters on Une edS' sue ~, -,
tbe Iowa bluffs The other day, before We had Ihat
frost. | noticed the crows nuttellhe diouhu III
peculiar manner and jISC before sunset ulel ONoI
over to the swamp along Cut-Of Lake. at once s
Inew that there was gong TO be colder weather anl
that the were seedbg warmer plare neai tn5
water They have plenty OF other Wsys OF te aIe
have got 50 used TO them that would De los'
they were TO their quarters ,. -
The old Is likely. however, to lose MS PETS as
the island which has never been bulit up, Decause
of tho fear that the Missouri River might some day
take notion TO return to its old channel, Is soon 10
DO occupied BY railroad yards.