When I decided to attempt the preparation of a review history of the
pigeon in Manitoba, I felt that, having had practically no experience
with the bird myself, I should have to depend upon the reports of
representative pioneers of the country for my facts as to the numbers
of the birds formerly found here, and the period of their decline
and disappearance. I accordingly drafted a series of questions which
I submitted to these gentlemen, and I have to tender them all my
sincere thanks, as well as that of the scientific world, for the ready
responses and the conciseness of the information received.
One of the earliest residents of Portage la Prairie, Mr. George A.
Garrioch, informs me:
"I was born in Manitoba and came to Portage la Prairie about 1853. I
was then only about six years old, and as far back as I can remember
pigeons were very numerous.
"They passed over every spring, usually during the mornings, in very
large flocks, following each other in rapid succession.
"I do not think they bred in any numbers in the province, as I only
remember seeing one nest; this contained two eggs.
"The birds, to my recollection, were most numerous in the fifties, and
the decline was noticed in the later sixties and continued until the
early eighties, when they disappeared. I have observed none since until
last year, when I am positive I saw a single male bird south of the
town of Portage la Prairie."
Mr. Angus Sutherland of Winnipeg, in reply to my interrogation, states:
"I was born in the present city of Winnipeg and have lived here over
fifty years. The wild pigeons were very numerous in my boyhood. They
frequented the mixed woods about the city, and while undoubtedly
many birds bred here, I remember no extensive breeding colonies in
the province, and believe the great majority passed farther north to
breed. About 1870 the decrease in their numbers was most pronouncedly
manifest, this decline continuing until the early eighties, when they
had apparently all disappeared, and I have seen only occasional birds
since, and none of late years."
Mr. W. J. McLean, formerly of the Hudson's Bay Company and at present
a resident of Winnipeg, sends me some valuable information, which
supports my contention regarding the influence of food supply. He
writes:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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