Alexander Wilson

Alexander Wilson was an early American ornithologist, bird artist, and poet born in Scotland, Wilson emigrated to America in 1793, worked as a weaver, then became a teacher in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Under the guidance of William Bartram, he undertook his epic American Ornithology which appeared in nine volumes between 1808 and 1814.

As far north as Wilmington, in North Carolina, I met with the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. I killed two, and winged a male, who alarmed the whole town of Wilmington, screaming exactly like a young child crying violently, so that everybody supposed I had a baby under the apron of my chair, till I took out the bird to prevent the people from stopping me, This bird I confined in the room I was to sleep in, and in less than half an hour he made his way through the plaster, the lath, and partly through the weather boards; and would have escaped, if I had not accidentally come in. American Ornithology, 1810.

 

At Big Bone Lick, thirty miles above the mouth of the Kentucky River, I saw them (Carolina Parakeets) in great numbers. They came screaming through the woods in the morning, about an hour after sunrise, to drink the salt water, of which they, as well as the Pigeons, are remarkably fond. When they alighted on the ground, it appeared at a distance as if covered by a carpet of richest green, orange, and yellow: they afterwards settled, in one body, on a neighboring tree, which stood detached from any other, covering almost every twig of it, and the sun, shining strongly on their gay and glossy plumage, produced a very beautiful and splendid appearance. Here I had an opportunity of observing some very particular traits of their character: Having shot down a number, some of which were only wounded, the whole flock swept repeatedly around their prostrate companions, and again settled on a low tree, within twenty yards of the spot where I stood. At each successive discharge, though showers of them fell, yet the affection of the survivors seemed rather to increase; for, after a few circuits around the place, they again alighted near me, looking down on their slaughtered companions with such manifest symptoms of sympathy and concern, as entirely disarmed me. Ibid.

 

Amusement blended with instruction, the correction of numerous errors that have been introduced into this part of the natural history of our country, and a wish to draw the attention of my fellow-citizens, occasionally, from the discordant jarrings of politics, to a contemplation of the grandeur, harmony and wonderful variety of Nature, exhibited in this beautiful portion of the animal creation, have been my principal, and, I might say, almost my only motives in the present undertaking. Ibid..

 

Sometimes (robins) will disappear for a week or two, and return again in greater numbers than before; at which time the cities pour out their sportsmen by scores, and the markets are plentifully supplied with them at a cheap rate. Ibid.