The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-02-04
SWANS FATAL SWIM
How a Great Flock Were Swept
Over Niagara Falls
SAD SCENE FOR ANY BIRD LOVER
Rarely Does a Year Pass Without
Vast Numbers of These Splendid
Birds Taking the Terrible Plunge
Over the Cataract-Later, Appear
on the Table.

on the Table.
All naturalists and many sports
men will recall the great destruc-
tion of swans which took place at
Niagara Falls. A great flock OF these
large and beautiful birds was car
rieu down the river and over the
falls and an authoritative account OF
the occurrence recently appeared IN
a paper by James Savage. OF Bunalo,
N. Y. printed In the bulletin of the
Buffalo Society of Natural History.
While the whistling swan occurs
regularly along the Niagara River, 1t
is always a rare migrant and would
scarcely ever lie captured were 1t not
for the fact that 1t often floats down
the river to injury or death at the
great cataract. Observers declare
that scarcely year passes without
one or more swans going over the
falls. About twenty made the fatal
plunge in March, 1906, and fve in
the same month, 1907, but no such
destruction of swans has been known
as took place March 10. 1908, when
more than 100 were destroyed.
During the greater part OF the day
a severe rainstorm prevailed. About
Il o'clock in the morning, between
showers, William Leblond OF Ma
CARA Falls, Ont, was engaged In re-
moving from the ice bridge tenn
porary structure that had been used
during the winter season as SOU
venir and refreshment stand, when
he was startled by loud cry. Turn
ing around, his attention was first
attracted to swan struggling in the
water at the upper edge OF the Ice
bridge, but on looking toward the
falls he saw great company OF
swans in distress coming toward the
bridge. The scene that followed
was sad one for any bird lover to
contemplate.
These splendid birds, helpless
after their terrible plunge owe: the
cataract were dashed against the
ice bridge by the swift current amid
cakes of loose ice, which were con-
stantly coming down from the up
per river. Some had been killed out
right b. the falls. Others unable
10 fly. because of injury to their
wings, attempted to stem the rush
ing waters, but here heir wonder
fui swimming powers were OF nc
avail They were soon imprisoned
in the ice, where their pitiful cries
were heartrending.
The game laws of Ontario still
permit the taking of geese and swar
III the spring until April 80, and II
was not long before men and boys
armed with guns and sticks, availeo
themselves of the privilege and be
came the chief factors in the clos
ing scene of natures great tragedy
the sacrifice of the swans"
AS soon as he learned of the oc
renee. Mr.. Savage visited Niagars
Falls, and from his investigation
concluded that the number OF swans
taken March 15 was l02. On thu
morning OF March Is, two mor'
were taken at the ice bridge and |
third was picked up alive on thu
shore. 1t was secured by Mr.. Say
age and photographed. Placed II
the geological collection In Delawar'
Park, Buffalo, 1t recovered. Elevel
more swans were taken later, ant
some others were seen which, thoug.
apparently carried over the falls
We're still able to take wing and IL
away.
Mr.. Savage quotes j. l.. Dawson
napar ap tho .spirde nf Mia
County," published nearly twent
years ago in Forest and Stream
which contains reference to injure
swans in waters near Niagara Falls
But swans are not the only water
fowl that are in danger from Mia
CARA. On March IS, 1908, Mr.. Say
age saw a handsome male canvas
back come down against the ic
bridge. 1t appeared to be unable
fly. On the same day he saw gold
eneye duck struggle out of the foam
ing water below the Horseshoe Fall
and reach the shore. 1t made n
attempt to escape when picked vi
and semed unable to walk or Il.
Later however, it recovered and di
fly off.
or the swans which went over tn
falls. many afterward appeared o
the table. A number were preserve
by the taxldernists of Niagara Fal
and Toronto. a group OF hve al
pears in the Museum of the Buffal
Society of Natural Sciences. M
Savage saw not less than fifty
these dead birds, and looked the
over carefully, thinking that perhaI
there might be among them
trumpeter swan, but none was foun
Mr.. Savage believes that fully on
third of the 116 swans taken woul
have survived Il given proper car
but the impulse to kill was stron
er than the spirit to save, and n
even pair OF these unfortuna'
birds was rescued from nature