Battle of the Birds

C. Thomas Hardin

Courier-Journal & Louisville Times

Kentucky's battle of the blackbirds drew national attention and touched off a controversy that embroiled the U.S. Army, national humane societies and the Supreme Court. Dozens of cities attempted to drive off invading swarms of blackbirds. In Western Kentucky, grackles, starlings, redwings and cowbirds were sprayed with Tergitol, a detergent that strips from birds' feathers their protective oil and leaves the birds to die of shock in the winter chill. An estimated 300,000 to 500,000 birds were killed.

C. Thomas Hardin, "Battle of the Birds," in POYi Archive, Item #8248, http://archive.poy.org/index.php/items/show/8248 (accessed June 5, 2025).