Among the birds not loved by keepers are jackdaws. One old keeper
friend of ours has brought hundreds of jackdaws to a bad end. One
evening, years ago, when walking through a park, his keen eyes noticed
a hole high up in the stem of an ash-tree; and as he looked, out flew
a jackdaw--never to return. Passing that way again, another jackdaw
flew out, and paid the penalty of living in that keeper's preserves.
He found the hole to be a favourite place for these birds, for it made
an excellent nursery for the young. Season after season, the keeper
kept his eye on the hole. As he went by, he would make a peculiar
squeaking noise, which would call out any birds that might be at home.
The stem of the tree about the hole became riddled with shot with such
curious effect that when the tree fell the keeper cut out the section
containing the hole; and it may be seen in his parlour, among other
treasures, to this day.
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