Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-03-24

finds the nest OF a wild pig
con (ectopistes migratori-
us), otherwise known as
L. the passenger pigeon, and
finds with 1t the nesting
BIRDS In order to get the
reward the person who makes the dis
covery must leave the nest and the
birds unmolested and prove the truth OF
1t by making a report and giving the SCI
entists an opportunity to verify the case.
Magazine and newspaper articles lit
orally by the thousands have been writ
ten about the disappearance Of the
wild pigeons which once. as 1t Is al
ways put, "darkened the sun with their
niaD s." The members of the biologi-
cal Survey in Washington are specially
interested in the subject Of the disap-
pearance Of this bird of passage from
its wild haunts. For years 1t has been
hoped that nesting pairs might be found
in some part of the country and that
with proper protection the bird might
be restored in part at least to its place
in nature.
Recently there was a story published
to the effect that the birds. wearied OF
the constant persecution which met
them in the United States. had changed
the course of their flight and had gone
into Mexico and there were living peace
fully and happily. This story proved to
be absolutely without foundation. Still
another tale was to the effect that the
pigeons had gone into the heart Of South
America and there finding conditions
pleasant were leading a non-migratory
life. This tale also proved to be en-
tirely fictitious.
In all parts of the southern states in
the winter seasons there are people
watching sharp-eyed for a glimpse of
the bird that once was a common sight.
In the summer sharp eyes Of the north
are constantly on the alert for the same
purpose. but as yet no authentic report
has been received that the bird Of mys-
terious disappearance has revisited the
scenes familiar through the centuries to
its ancestors.
One of the scientists most Interested
in the search for the wild pigeon is
Ruthven Deane. fellow of the American
Ornithologists' union and president of
the Illinois Audubon Society for the
Protection Of Wild Birds. Mr.. Deane
virtually has given up all hope that any
living specimen Of the passenger pigeon
ever will be found. but he is as tireless
to>6 as ever in tracing reports Of the
birds temperance to their sources.
The offer Of $500 for the discovery Of
nesting pair Of the pigeons and their
undisturbed nest comes from Clifton r.
Hodge Of Clark university. but 500 ad-
ditional will be paid for the discovery
Of a pair Of birds and their most II found
in the state Of Illinois. The additional
reward is the joint offer Of Mr. Deane
and. as ! remember It. Of Professor Within
the University OF Chicago.
One Of the most curious features q,
search for the wild pigeon is the mistakes
are made constantly by men who years
trapped the pigeons and were as familiar
their appearance as they were. and are
for that matter, with the appearance of the
mon robin Of the dooryard. Reports have
in from all sections Of the country of the
pearance Of the pigeon. but on investigat
invariably has been found that the disco,
had seen nothing more nor less than the
mon wild dove (venaidura macroura), or n
ing dove. which Is SO familiar n bird Il
seems almost impossible that any. man O
countryside could have failed to overlook
his constant neighbor and could confuse II
its much larger cousin. the passenger pige
other days.
To give an example Of how the search 4
Quoted for the wild pigeon and how conscie
are the scientists In attempting to verify r,
Of its temperance this one instance. taken
a hundred instances. may be noted. Recel
report from northern Michigan reached the
dent of the Illinois Audubon society tha
passenger pigeon in very truth had reapp
in The vicinity Of a club house frequente
hshsrmen and gunners. many Of whom
kn9n the pigeon well in the old days ant
were certain that in this case they coul
be mistaken as to the identity OF the bir
itors.
It was a long journey to the northern
gan club house. but an ornithologist unde
the trip believing in his heart that fnall
passenger pigeon had been found. for he
that the men who had made the report had
familiar with the bird in the old days ant
posedly knew the appearance of its every fe
At the end Of the journey he was told ths
pigeons were there and he was led out I
them. They proved to be mourning dov
bird common in nearly all parts Of Mic
and in most of the states OF the Union. Tn
appointment was keen. and keener in this
because this was one report which seem
have about 1t every mark Of truth.
When I was q boy I knew the wild ?
fairly well. It was nothing like as abu
as It had been in the years gone by. but
sionally small focks were seen in the vicin
my birthplace in the foothills Of the Adirol
mountains in central New York. I am sor
say that I shot some Of the birds before I
realized the value Of giving protection to q
ishing race. The mourning dove know a.
as ! know the English sparrow. and I thinl
rho NJ P,,at To- ,,~tv