The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-29
A WILD GOOSE PATROL,
Armed Herders Defending Wheat Field
from Endless Fiocks OF Geese and Ducks.

| Armed Herders Defending Wheat Fields
from Endless Fiooks OF Geese and Ducks.
| 1T may sound funny to people In the Eas
| to be told that to protect tho grain crops ir
| some OF the California counties from wilC
| ducks and geese the farmers have to employ
| large force OF what are known as herders tc
patrol the fields and shoot club, and destroy
and brighten away by various means the
enormous flocks Of these ravenous fowl that
sweep down on tho young and growing grain
and devour 1t, but such Is the fact" said
James L. Palen, largo grower Of wheat in the
Sacramento valley. The ravaginE swarms
OF ducks and geese begin their work
Of destruction early in the fall as
soon as tho wheat beGus to sprout.
The fowl invade the country along the rivers.
but they do not tarrv there an hour after the
rains have made tho wheat plains habitable
for them. l have seen n tract OF seventy i've
acres in Colusa county absolutely covered with
wild geese. so densely packed MS to resemble
pictures have seen of seabird rOokerioS on
some ocean rock. When they first como they
wax fat on tho wheat stuDble. and ure Juicy
and sweet favored for the table but when the
young winter wheat appears they work on the
green sprouts. This has tho effect OF making
their flesh rank. and no one In any of the wild
Roose-ridden districts will eat Of these fowls
then. They are shipped by the thousand. all
tho Same. to san Francisco and other markets
all winter long, where the people seem to think
tho green wheat-ied birds are great delicacy.
But If the markets could take ten times as
many as they do the number would bo small
compared with the thousands and thousands
Of the destructive fowls that arc killed and left
lying on the ground.
Tolo county. where l live. especially In its
northern part; ! once thought could beat all
creation rs feeding place Tor wild geese. for
these Hooks
going to and from their tavorito pasture, Jhat
only few-and far, between giimpses OF the sky
could be obtained for an hour at q time. But
when went into Colusa county made M my
mind that had never seon Wild geese enough
OF barron plain in that county, which affords
an unrvalled place OF rendezvous for both
and dnSks ana ana hHyG seen those bartens
went forth to all parts Of tho land, near aud
remote must surely have their starting place
on the Colusa county barrens. They may be
seen rising urfrom the pla ins in swarms like
the loeusts OF Egypt and going forth in nll
M to Prey rev. on nd ne FRI we6 h9fy re-
ers cut in the harvest they have had to fight the
geese and ducks for months to retain.
these TWO counties, such ms the Glenn ranch,
the DogR. and others. From twelve to twenty
M ARE 9ha do ey eHf OF ths pig
continual warfare against the geese and ducks.
These herders live in cabins scattered about
daylight until dark, and long after night, too.
II the moon is shining. for both geese and
ducks feed on the wheat folds at night II 1t is
DUCKS are more troublesome than
few SRu years wa" ago tSS
light in a field would, Brighten them away.
Lanters were placed in largo numbers
the fowl were 80 shy of the bright lights that
tho farmers were benefited. At last, however;
grew 80 bold as to feed by their light.
The small farmers In tho wheat district be-
Ing unable to individually employ borders. have
in sort of mutual herding assocla-
ton and pay for patrol protection out of com
mon fund many OF the farmers doing herder
duty themselves.