Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 June 1895 — Bird Colonies. [ARTICLE]

Bird Colonies.

Within the Arctic Circle are the great bird colonies. The largest and most remarkable is that of Svaerholt Klubben. Every inch of this wonderful cliff, which rises about one thousand feet from the water’s edge, and Is of considerably greater breadth, may be said to be used by the birds. The discharge of a small cannon in the immediate neighborhood will darken the air with millions of birds, but even then a field glass will reveal the innumerable ledges white with other undisturbed millions. These consist almost entirely of the small gull, and they are a source of considerable income to the owner of the colony, who lives at the little fishing station close by. About the middle of May every year, by means of a long ladder placed against the foot of the cliff, he proceeds to collect the oggs. Of these there are at most three to each nest, and the number taken averages from 0,000 to 10,000 annually, or the produce of, suy. 8,000 pairs of birds. Ropos are not used for this purpose at Haverholt, as thoy are in the Faroe Isles, so that the highest of the above figures represent only a very small percentage of the yearly production of tho colony, as far the greater portion of the ollff face, where tho nests are packed as closely as they can be, remains absolutely untouched.