Over the span of two years, blackbirds attacked two people in Pennsylvania. One attack happened to a woman in 1908, and the second attacked happened to a man, bakery driver, in 1910.
Blackbirds Attack Gay Hat
“While walking in the suburban districts today with a male friend, Miss Nettie Williams, of Pittsburg, was the object of an unusual attack. She wore a hat with a bird of brilliant plumage as an ornament.
“Suddenly her head became encircled by half a dozen blackbirds, which pecked at the bird in her hat, tearing out the bright-colored feathers with their beaks.
“The blackbirds even flew in her face and lacerated the skin with their bills. Tearing the hat from her head, Miss Williams threw it on the ground.
Her escort was obliged to use his coat to beat the birds off.” [Source: The Topeka state journal. (Topeka, Kansas), 13 July 1908.]
Blackbirds Attack Baker
“When Thomas Wilson, driver of a Philadelphia bakery wagon, stopped to water his horses, en route to this city yesterday morning, he was attacked by a swarm of hundreds of blackbirds, which flew upon him, pecking at his hair and eyes and making a general onslaught on his cargo of bread.
“The attack, he says, took place after Wilson had reached Prospect Park. He used the butt of his whip to fight off the birds, killing and crippling a score of them.
“A dozen or more of the blackbirds were taken from the wagon after it reached Chester.
“Wilson thinks the birds were prompted by hunger.” [Source: Alexandria gazette. (Alexandria, D.C.), 16 Sept. 1910.]
