BAND-TAILED PIGEONS

Len Longmire, when reminiscing of the early days at Longmire Springs, refers occasionally to the birds -- particularly the pigeons -- that used to flock to the meadow wherin these subterranean waters bubbled. In fact one group of these springs, whose mineral content served as an incentive for the first permanant settlement within the region which is now the park, seemed to be a particular favorite of these pigeons. And so James Longmire called them the "Pigeon Springs".

This moist meadow is still quite a favorite place of the birds. But the Band-tailed Pigeons, because of their prominent association with the early days, are of particular interest. They resemble in many ways the domestic pigeon with which we are all familiar but their tail is possessed of a broad band across the middle -- hence the name.

The other day, while walking along the Trail of the Shadows which skirts the meadow mentioned above, a small band of these birds flew in from the surrounding country and alighted in the cottonwoods that bordered the heavy timber with a characteristic, restless flapping of wings -- much in the same manner, I imagine as had been the custom of the Band-tailed Pigeon here in years gone by. Band Tails were quite common in this meadow during the past summer. Now, however, they have left us for warmer climes but no doubt they will return to "The Mountain" again next summer.