Report of A. C. Bent, on Condition of Bird Colonies on Cobb's Island, Virginia, in 1907
We landed on Cobb's Island Sunday afternoon, June 23, and left the following Sunday, June 30, at noon. We made our headquarters at the Cobb's Island Club House with Mr. George Isdell, who was then in charge of it; we consulted Captain Andrews frequently, at the life-saving station, but could not stay with him, as he had no room for us. We explored Cobb's Island quite thoroughly, and several of the surrounding islands and marshes, as they are called, including Wreck, Moon and Pig Islands, Big Eastward, Little Eastward, Rapesan and Presses "marshes."
Pig Island is a large, low and sandy island, practically devoid of vegetation, -- really nothing more than a large sand-bar raised sufficiently to be above the reach of the highest tides. Cobb's, Wreck and Moon Islands consist mainly of extensive salt-marshes, partially flooded at high tide, protected on the ocean sides by high sandy or stony beaches, frequently covered with great piles of oyster-shells, washed up from the sea. The so-called 'marshes' are inside islands consisting mainly of salt-marshes, flooded at high tide, but generally containing some dry lands.
We did not visit Smith's Island, for lack of time and because we heard that birds were not as plentiful there as on the islands we explored.
Laughing gulls were abundant everywhere, perhaps nearly as abundant as they have ever been within recent years. We found two or three large breeding colonies on Cobb's Island, and many smaller colonies or scattering pairs nesting on the salt-marshes, where their nests were conspicuous in the short marsh grass. The largest colony of all was on Big Eastward, and there were other large breeding colonies on Little Eastward, Rapesan and Wreck Islands.
The birds do not seem to be molested, but egging is allowed up to July 4, the eggs are persistently and thoroughly collected almost daily by the oyster men until that date, after which they are allowed to raise their birds. Out of
hundreds of nests examined, we were able to find only two complete sets of three eggs. It was surprising to see the thoroughness with which the nests were robbed. Oystermen and fishermen are very numerous here, and, as they are busy on their fishing-grounds at this season they live in small shanties on the marshes and derive an important part of their food supply from the eggs of the sea-birds, principally the Gulls. As the birds do not seem to be materially reduced in numbers by their depredations, laying their eggs persistently like domestic fowls, perhaps it would be hardly fair to deprive the men of this convenient source of supply where provisions are so hard to obtain; but it does seem as if the egging season might be shortened somewhat. The wardens, of course, are powerless to stop egging until laws can be passed prohibiting it.
Gull-billed Terns are rapidly disappearing form this region, where only a few years ago they were common. Only two pairs were seen on Cobb's Island. I saw a few Terns, not over two or three pairs, at Pig Island, which I thought were this species. At Wreck Island we found a few Gull-billed Terns, -- perhaps eight or ten pairs, -- breeding in the Black Skimmer colony. We found, in all, only four nests, one on Cobb's Island and three on Wreck Island.
A few Common Terns were seen almost everywhere, and a number of their nests were found but no large breeding colonies were noted.
Forster's Terns were occasionally seen at various points, and a few frequented a marsh on Cobb's Island almost constantly, but no nests were found there. On June 28, we discovered a large breeding colony on Wreck Island. Probably over one hundred pairs, and possibly nearly two hundred pairs, were breeding in a salt-marsh, where their nests were thickly congregated on windrows of driftwood along the edge of a creek. The birds can be easily recognized by their notes, and their nests are characteristic, being very neat, well-built structures on large piles of driftwood. These and the other Terns' eggs are apparently not regularly taken by the fishermen, perhaps because they are too small, for we found full sets of eggs in all stages of incubation and some young birds.
The Royal and Least Terns have now become practically extinct in this region; we saw none of either species, but were told that a few Royal Terns are seen occasionally. The Least Terns have been thoroughly annihilated for millinery purposes. Our guides told us most appalling stories of the immense numbers of these birds that were slaughtered here within the past few years; the figures were almost incredible; he and nearly all of the gunners and fishermen on the coast took a hand in the game, and they kept at it until the last one was gone, though at first the supply seemed inexhaustible. Probably this species will never be reestablished on this coast, but I am happy to say that protection has come in time to save the Forster's and Common Terns.
I understand that shooting for the millinery trade has been entirely and effectually stopped, as it is known to be illegal and the wardens are seeing the laws are enforced.
Clapper rails are still abundant on the meadows, where they are almost constantly heard, though less often seen. We found a great many nests, but saw practically no young birds.
The eggs we found were probably second sets, but we were unable to decide whether the earlier sets had been destroyed by high tides or whether they had hatched and the young were keeping out of sight. The eggs are taken to some extent by the fishermen, but not so regularly as the gulls eggs, which are larger and more easily collected.
There were two very large colonies of Black Skimmers nesting on Pig Island, a small colony on Cobb's Island and a large colony on Wreck Island. They were only just beginning to lay, and hardly any of the sets were complete before we left. I doubt if many of the eggs are taken by the fishermen, though they are considered good eating; they do not begin laying much before the egging season closes. The birds are not shot or disturbed in any way, and I do not see why they should not hold their own for many years to come.
Of the Willets, there were not over three pairs, and I am inclined to think that there were only two pairs, as we never saw more than four birds at one time. They frequented the north end of Cobb's Island and had apparently finished breeding. About three or four pairs of Wilson's Plovers also frequented the same locality and had evidently been breeding here; they acted as if they had young in the vicinity, but we could not find them. Both of these species are, in my opinion, doomed to speedy extermination in this locality, as they are far from wary and will sooner or later be killed by some of the numerous shore-bird hunters, who come here to shoot the migrant birds in the spring as well as in the fall.
Less than half a dozen pairs of American Oyster-catchers were seen, -- one pair on Pig Island, two or three pairs on Cobb's Island, and one pair on Wreck Island. The latter pair evidently had young, but the others were apparently through breeding.
These birds are exceedingly wary and better able to survive; moreover they are not considered good eating and therefore are not sought for by the gunner, but it hardly seems likely that they can last many years more.
To sum up my conclusions -- I should say that the Royal and Lest Terns are hopelessly gone; the Gull-billed Tern, Willet, Wilson's Plover and American Oyster-catcher are doomed, and nothing can be done to save them; but the Laughing Gull, Forster's and Common Terns, Black Skimmers and Clapper Rails are now being adequately protected, and should survive.
The wardens seem to be doing their work effectively and the laws are respected. But the egging season might be shortened and spring shooting ought to be stopped entirely. The only possible way to save the three shore birds which now breed on Cobb's Island would be to make it a reservation and stop all shooting there at all times. As the eastern Willet is rapidly approaching extermination, it would seem worth while to protect it.