The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-08
Her QUEST FOR PELICANs.
A WOMAN NATURALIST'SCAPTURE
on a FLORIDA ISLAND.


Thoush . Grandmether she Did What Men
We're Afraid 10 Do-Two Nights on
Pelican Island IN the Indian Rive,
Bears Marks q Her Fight sun.
II Ia characteristic Of some women 70
follow whatever pursuit engages their
interest even at the sacrifice Of their natural
leaning toward what Ii comfortable and
conventional. One OF the successful prac-
tical naturalists Of this country is a woman
a grandmother, OF refinement and educa~
ton, who at an age when most of her sex
are settling themselves down to the re-
sources Of needlework and the chimney
corner goes into the wilds and fills orders
for live birds and strange insects for zoos
and private collectors.
Last fall she obtained some brown peli.
cans for the New York Geological Park.
The commission necessitated her spend.
ing the greater part Of two nights in solitary
watching on a lonely island OF the Indian
River in Florida. And she came Oh not
only with flying colors as to the SUCCESS
of the quest, but also with some very real
marks OF battle on her face and shoulders,
the results Of blows from the wings and
beaks Of the birds she eesayed TO cap.
ture.
you were not afraid Of rheumstism
or Of snakes, sitting on the ground al that
timer she was asked.
Il dreaded nothing except not getting
nv Birds was the answer. The mos
quitoes were the most present terror.
in order to decoy pelicans one must
play at being q part Of the landscape and
simulate an old stump or projecting cypress
k.- aQk
move, so the mosquitoes could not bs
brushed Of. Anyone seeing my face the
next day would have thought me afflicted
with erysipelas.
But capturing the birds gives keen
pleasure, worth all the lonely waiting
and mosquito bites. One experiences
similar feeling on landing a big 6sh, but
catching live birds is sport more subtle
and uncommon.
sWhen first went after the pelicans
I engaged three negroes TO help me. |
posted them at intervals among the nests.
covered them with dead grass and charged
them to sit mute and still until the old birds
appeared, II It was three or four hours.
That was at dusk OF the evening My
grandson, q young boy, also was posted 10
watch for the birds.
Il hid myself and waited. In two hours
or 90 the old birds came TO those particular
nests bringing food for their young and
1 was ON the eve Of making ono prisoner
when suddenly with a great roar OF wings
the birds all few up ahrighted. The
negroes and my grandson had become
alarmed at the size and nearnees OF the
pelcans and had got up and scay d the
whole colony away.
Il ordered those helpers OF the island.
you may depend on 1t, and later went back
alone TO try my luck. The island Is Two
acres in area and known ~ Pelican Island
because OF the thousands Of those birds
that frequent IL. The great black man
grove trees that formerly shaded tn"
ground are dead, injured by the weight
of the nests and the pelicans depreciation
.On this night sat down with my back
against the stump Of a mangrove tree.
drew the dried grass up close about me-.
NO az entirely to conceal my clothing. ann
bided quiet as a statue.
After a time one downy white neetlin1t
climbed up on my lap. probably because
the thick grass made the perch inviting.
and began calling for food. Young pel'-
cans have monstrous appetites. have
never seen one satisfied yet, unless 1t hap
pened to have a fish too large to swallow
all at once, and so had to sit and let the
fish settle down az 1t digeeted
For long the grown birds were shy
about coming near me. The 1rignt tns
negroes gave them was rememberrd
They settled down at the far end OF the
Island. only gaining confidence by degrees
AT length several came up to within
ten feet or so to inspect my queer ap-
pearance, and the presence OF the bsbv
Lar. cad
on their nests near me. ! soon had hne.
big mother by the legs, but before couh
catch her bill In my left hand she struck
me in the face. leaving a marx. bu'
held on and succeeded in caging her.
AT 7 o'clock the next night ! went 10
the island again alone and hid. The mon
was up and all the young birds were Calling
TO their elders ~ usual.
Il sat down to watch. putting net
OF three young birds In my lap aud d.
guising my attire with grass and w""a''
80 as TO look as II ] was an island prop"
There were NO many nests around, "'
exactly alike and hardly room 10 va"
between them. that II WAS wonderfu' ~.
others. ! saw many q struggle for mo
possession Of the nests.
There was a bit OF clear ground near
me. and n the birds aiiGhted they iac'i
me in the moonlight Then they h'gd'
settling on the nests. The mosquitoee No.
getting In some great work. but could no.
drlv. them On.
One bird liz on the stump dir~ctly over
NV head but ! made no aitemP' tn sr' A.
waiting for surer game. u, Was neal YET
far from my hands.
The nesilings In my lap KEEP, crying for
food aud later down came J'ribe Ola h''a
right into my lap. That bird ~ss soon
Gagged and ~ Ma another. hut .'smpsd"
ensued ! stayed on the island until
O'Clock IN the morning, hut the Irt's'-
were 80 frightened 10y the too zap. u"'
had mad that they would not r-'nnn J.
iaks- ..yeral days Tot ib.'n 10 r~o''i
from such slI@rl.poes
10 s.i 10 Pelican Island one has ~ hi'"
q sloop and a man IA -iisI y irrD Toe
Is,dss, the b-ar-si siaissn on the n,Ain1h'.l
ten nii.s sway Tho Island 10 on IA. 'a-l
~. III ,i. Indian ki,sI and has h"''i
had any human inhabitants sa,s 49, aslHa a.
oainl.rT. Who ssni then "a tsh 80 nun
III 10 NOV sniir'ly gwen ossl IA 80
,,rli, ans sho have driven ~ oil oihni iu''
Il.at .,nloysd tl.s sIsa siirn 10" in"s ~.
lsl,rd "a seofd shade fi-i, 90" - plrnih
ln il.s Indian hi,sf that ilss tsilHsnf
kssp ih.lf yolns aiHiiasnilt s,ilslHha
Y L. -.