Memories of
Mattoon
The Birds
Alfred Hitchcock’s
movie The Birds was filmed in a small coastal town just north
of San Francisco, Bodega Bay to be exact. I believe the “bad”
birds were seagulls. Had the movie been filmed in the late
40’s it might well have taken place in Mattoon.
I don’t remember the exact year but we had just moved from
South 6th Street to Pine Street when Mattoon was invaded by
birds. I don’t know what kind of birds they were but I think
they were related to blackbirds. For all I know our
neighborhood might have been the only place the birds decided
to take up residence. In massive numbers I might add.
To us kids it was exciting to see them. Especially at dusk
when they would come swooping in and gather in a large tree
which I think was on the southwest corner of 27th and Pine.
However, the adults didn’t seem too happy with this invasion
and before long the police would send out officers just before
dusk to greet the birds. Unfortunately, for the birds, it was
not a welcome greeting.
The policemen were armed with shotguns filled with birdshot
and once the chattering birds had settled in the tree they
opened fire. Needless to say, the birds didn’t stand a chance.
This was before most families had a TV so I must confess it
was good entertainment for all the kids in our neighborhood. I
think the adults enjoyed it as much as we did. I don’t think
the birds felt the same way.
