We all know that Tesla was a fastidious man who shunned germs and microbes. To say that he was a “clean freak” would be an understatement!

During late September & early October, Tesla's notes state that a large antenna pole is being erected through the center of the lab floor high into the Colorado sky. Around this pole, Tesla had a giant wooden tower and latticework erected on the roof to hold the antenna pole stable. He used four large champagne bottles at the top as standoff insulators to allow some small level of high voltage to be handled by the system. This huge wooden structure can be seen in a number of photographs in the CSN.

Tesla's lab was located atop a small hill on the relatively open grass prairie just outside of town. Birds migrate during the fall to warmer climates. Many readers are familiar with the noise and late evening roosting habits of such mass migrations. Can you imagine the thrill of migrating birds to see, in the late evening, such a fine “million bird” perch sitting like a beacon on the prairie?! Can you also imagine the droppings falling through the open roof of the CSL onto the floor and high voltage system Tesla was daily working with and touching?!

It is known that Tesla rarely began actual powered experiments until late afternoon, using the cool morning hours to test, move and make alterations within the lab. The roof could be closed during the night and day, but had to be opened in preparation for experiment. Thus, about the time Tesla needed to run tests, a hail of bird droppings might be awaiting him from his self-made avian “Holiday Inn” above.

I am not suggesting that Tesla slew thousands of migrating birds, though I am sure it entered his mind during the worst moments of the onslaught. I doubt that falling bird blood, feathers and carcasses would have been much better on the CSL floor and coil system than their droppings, in Telsa's mind. What he probably did, once he realized the problem, was to fire aimlessly to make noise and scare off the birds. At first, he most likely used his little 32, as it was handy, small and lightweight. He would have most likely fired into the ground, a ditch or into the air in a direction where the bullets would land harmlessly on open prairie. This effort was probably quickly turned over to the “hired help”, based on the number of rounds consumed. Tesla probably didn't want to trust his little private pistol to a helper, and coupled with the added expense of the 32 shells, probably discontinued its use altogether for mere noise making. This explains the initial purchase of 32 caliber bullets, and none thereafter. The bulk of the ammunition purchases were 22 caliber cartridges, most likely for a 22 rifle. The problem of perched birds must have been rather severe, as often fewer than four days passed between 500 round purchases.

I would imagine an assistant was armed with either a 22 rifle (most likely) or pistol and stationed in a chair in the early evening just outside of the lab with several hundred rounds of ammunition. As birds approached or circled to land, a single shot would ring out to discourage the roosting. Birds are quite persistent and often just fly in a large circle around a wonderful roosting target which they have set in their brains and often attempt many landings at the same location if scared away initially.

I am open to any other ideas or information or alternate explanations for the vast ammunition expenditure of the CSL in late 1899.

In closing, I must say that this will certainly be the last article by me in the TCBA news. I regret the coming loss of the TCBA news which has been so brilliantly presented to us over the past 20 years by Harry Goldman whose kind and warm demeanor has nurtured and educated many of us, young and old alike. Thanks Harry, for the memories, the knowledge, and your warm stewardship of the premier Tesla building publication in the world. You and your TCBA news will be missed.

Richard Hull