Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-03-07
HAVEN FOR WILD DUCKS
North Carolina Farmer Feeds Them
500 Bushels of Corn Annually

500 Busheis OF Corn Annually
A tag bearing q number of verses
from the Scriptures and the name of
James Miner, Kingsville. Ontario,
found tied to the leg Of q wild duck
killed recently by Clyde Keencr of
Trenton, Jones county. near here has
brought to light the existence Of a
haven for wild fowl on the north shore
of Lake Erie to which the feathered
tribes flock in huge numbers. Keener
wrcte Miner advising him of the find
ing of the tag, says a New Bern, N. c.
dispatch. .''..
The latter in answering the letter
stated that wild ducks and geese stop
at his farm during the course of their
migratory journeys and that he and
the birds are the best of friends. He
said he had built a pond for the feath-
cred tourists and that he feeds them
500 bushels oflcorn each year during
their two months stay at his place.
Mr.. Miners letter, in part, follows:
THANK. you for having reported
finding the tag. 1 now have tags re-
turned to me off wild geese and ducks
from North Carolina to Hudson Bay.
In several instances the tags have
been found by Indians in the Ear
North after shooting the birds and
they have taken them to Hudson Bay
agents, who forwarded them to me.
"I have had tags returned to me
from twenty-three different states and
provinces, the farthest south being
Guydan, Louisiana, and the farthest
west being Englefeld, Saskatchewan.
81 try to tag all the birds that spend
some time at my place. Forty per
cent. Of those that tag in the fall re-
turn to me the following spring.
Others stay here all the time, in spite
Of the fact that weather grows very
cold. AS am writing you there are
about 75 wild geese and 40 wild ducks
feeding within 80 feet Of me. They
are keeping a small hole open in the
pond and they are depending on me
for food. iEr.t 49,. .H.,.
ut took me several years to get the
birds coming. At last, however, a
small bunch came and they apparently
told others until their little flock grew
into a small cloud. In fact, L have
seen the wild geese rise up so thick
that you could scarcely see through
them, and their honking could be
heard over mile away.
During the last six or seven years
have fed them in the months of
March and April 500 bushels Of corn.
When the birds stop off here they
seem to leave all fear behind them.
Even strange birds, visiting my place
for the first time, let me come within
a few feet of them. They evidently
have been toldnby the old timers that
there is no danger.
'It is a great, sight to see all these
birds together People for miles
around have heard of what I am doing
and thousands have come to see the
sight. Even these strangers can come
within forty 5aofsfifty%feet of the wild
birds without causing them any
fright Not a. single. bird has ever
been shot on ny premises and the
feathered tourists seem to know that
when they stop off here they are on
neutral ground. '''.
"Of course this is not so with re-
gard to the surrounding territory,
over which have no jurisdiction. 1
have seen men shoot and wound a
duck or goose and I have seen the
bird make desperate effort to reach
my place. Sometimes they succeed
and permit me to doctor them. At
other times they fall to the ground
before they can reach the safety zone"