The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-09-15
SWARMS OF BLACKBIRDS.
Hartford MANS HORSE CHEST
NUT TREES BLTTEGED
And Foot Passengers Disguised Cher-
ries and Apples Destroyed.

A. S. Churchill of No. 112 Washing
ton street, has in front of his house two
ton street, has in front of his house tw
large horse chestnut trees, about eigh-
ty years old. For the last four or five
summers these trees have been a hotel
for blackbirds, and thousands Of them
have become accustomed to roost there
over night. The birds begin to show up
early in May and for the first three
years they were gone on July 5. Evil
IDENTIFY the shooting on the Fourth
scared them away. Mr.. Churchill at
frt didn't mind their being in his trees,
as they We're not very numerous.
They were more numerous last year,
however, and instead Of leaving on
July 5 they remained until cold wealth
err set in, though Mr. Churchill made
many attempts to scare them away by
shooting rockets into the trees.
This year, however, the birds have
come by the thousands and they are
making the nights almost uncomfortable
to residents in that vicinity. Mr..
Churchills trees apparently attract
nearly all the blackbirds in the city
They usually begin to come in at $3.50
o'clock in the afternoon in swarms of
fifty or more from all directions. All
know the trees perfectly well and fly
right to them. Atabout fiveo'clock in
the morning it is hardly possible for
any one in the vicinity to sleep on ac-
count Of their cries. Apparently at
that time they hold council and decide
where to spend theday, and swarms of
them fly away in all directions.
This year the birds are more trouble
some than formerly. Most of them
now partake of lunch before going to
roost. as a result of which w. Stanton
Andrews, who lives in the next house
to Mr.. Churchill,is the sufferer. In the
spring Mr.. Andrews cherries were all
picked off the trees by the birds. Now
they peck all his large mellow apples
them useless The birds
have found out that pears are good eat
ing, so they have now taken to Mr..
Churchill's pear trees.
This is not all the nuisance they
cause, however. During the evening
many of themget to fighting with one
another and then it rains feathers UNI
night that now, instead of cutting
grass, he cuts feathers. The sidewalk
and the lawn Is a sight and offensive
10 the sense of smell. There are so
many birds this year that the two
chestnut trees willnot hold them all
and they are utilizing several maple
trees. The leaves of the maple trees
are falling as in the late autumn and 1t
will be but short time before the trees
ire bare
Mr.. Churchill has made many at
.empts to scare the birdsaway. He |
1as burned red lights and shot up rock |
It's. but without avail. He believes
hat If he could shoot blank cartridges
nto the tree few times he could pro-
luce the desired result. Mr.. Churchill /
Jaw Chief Bill yesterday to get per-
nit to do this. and the chief referred
lin to the mayor. Mr.. Churchill will
zee Mayor HARRISON to-day. People
Who live in the vicinity and who know
bout the blackbirds do not pass under
he trees at night. but walk out In the
treet. Two women dressed in white
assed under the trees one evening.
he f1utter of the birds wings made
ne of the women think that it was
aiming. and as some of the falling
gathers struck her she remarked:
why, it is raining, though the stars
re out" Mr., Churchill was near the
ate and heard her. Undoubtedly they II
bought differently when they got a
tile way farther off. A few evenings
go, while still light, Mr.. Churchill at
empted to count the birds. He got up
, eight hundred and then gave 1t up,
Though that was only very small
ortion of the number.-Hartford Cour-
Mt