The Fish Hawks of Gardiner's Island 



157 



in behavior. Their ohrdiciu r 

 is instaiU and (.•iidiirinLi;. At 

 the compIaiiiiiiLi; alarm w hisllc 

 of the parcnl, tlu'\ si|uat llat 

 in the nosl and hold ihi-ir 

 position, possibly for hours, 

 or until the old bird is reas- 

 sured and permits them to 

 raise their heads. l^iilike 

 young Terns, (lulls, or .Skim- 

 mers, they make no effort to 

 move when touched, doubt- 

 less because they have n.) 

 means of escape. 'J'he\- there- 

 fore not only look, but act 

 like dead birds. One can turn 

 them on their backs or ])lace 

 them in any position ; putty- 

 like they will remain, their 

 only movement being a rare 

 wink of the half-closed but 

 staring yellow-brown eye. When, however, the parent's suspicions are allayed, 

 and the young are permitted to move, they are often surprisingly alert and 

 active. 



The beach nests are exceptionally well situated for the jjurposes of bird 

 photography, and three of these nests furnished the subjects of my recent studies. 



ISH HAWK ALIGHTING 

 liree youns; (compare picture of feedi 



nest he 



whicli are squatting lo 



;*^:5>, 





KISH HAWK I-EEDIX(} YOUNG 



