The sun., 1896-10-18
BIG BAeG1NG OF PAonER.
An UnusuaI Number OF the Birds Brough
by the Recent EasterIy Gale.

Al Unusunl Number OF the Birds Brought
by the Recent Easteriy Gale.
CHARLEsTowN. R. l.. Oct. 17.-Not for years
has there been such q bagginE of golden plover
on tho salt marshes hereabout as during tho
bowling northeaster sent up this way from the
West Indies by the weather makers. Several
sportsmen from Providence. New York. and
New Haven availed themselves of the shooting.
which would not have amounted to much this
season but for the fact that the birds were
driven in while on their Southern fight by the
succession Of easterly gales of shore.
The annual flight of golden plover began some
weeks ago. but before this week few had been
shot here. as the birds kept we'll out at sea. The
flight is usually over in this region by Oct 10.
but the storm made 1t a little later this year.
Charles F. Bourn of New Haven headed one of
the most enthusiastic parties that visited the
marshes. reaching them about twenty -four
hours before the easterly gale subsded. The
men worked the birds with the decoy plover
stuck off the sand spits In positions where tho
focks were likely to trade" or pass in search of
food All of the men wore hip rubber boots in
which TO wade out To the decoys, and all carried
| repeating guns. They sat in blinds of sea weeds.
| and as tho birds appeared decoyed them, when
necessary, within shooting distance by means OF
plover whistles. The line OF birds DETECTED by
the gale began to reach the marshes on Mon
day afternoon. During the following night the
cries of the confused birds were heard. On
Tuesday more than 800 birds were shot,
many Of them being summer yellow legs and
few marlin. On Tuesday afternoon, when It
was evident that the force of the gale WAS
broken and that the wind was about to shift to
| q more favorable quarter, the birds deserted
| the ponds as quickly as they came to continue
| their journey. They flew southeast from here.
Th sport of shooting these birds is regarded
as almost the best by expert wing shots. 1t re-
quires good call note to heaye to flock OF
| birds perhaps half q mile away. When this has
| been done and they see the decoys. their
| curiosity is aroused. They drop from the
clouds with a whrr of outstrotched wings TO
more are likely to be ended at once. The rest
| of the flock. shiverlng with fright, become
| easy prey. One hunter discovered fourteen
| golden plover all OF which he finally bagged,
out OF sight in thcket after each shot, and in
this way Keeping the curiosity of the remaining
| birds well aroused.
| No one has found ont just where these inter-
| esting shore birds ana waders go their
southern pIlrgimaGe. They arrive in tho
rearing their young. fly toward Smiths Sound
| on the low berry bearing plains Of Labrador.
Millions upon millions of the birds fly south
| from Labrador and tho old birds take the lead
| by several weeks. They go to Newfoundland
or Prince Edwards Island, and thence 1t is
| supposed. directly TO South America by way of
| the WiDdward Islands. The flights along this
| coast during this pilgrimage are caused by
| easLerly gales which drive the birds oil shore.
| There are flights. or landing places. In Nova
and on the Barbadoes The birds reach south
| America in the vicinity OF Guiana, and then
| wing their way as far as Patagonia. In April
they appear again in the United States.