The Camera as an Aid in the Study of Birds 



BY DR. THOS. S. ROBERTS 



Director, Department of Birds, Natural History Survey of Minnesota. 

 With photographs from Nature, by the Author. 



NYONE having an earnest interest in both natural 

 history and photography can find no more de- 

 .--^^gj>-^'\-^^ lightful and profitable way of spending leisure 

 !^ !)f ' '! 'I hours than by prying into the secrets of Dame 

 ature with an instrument capable of furnishing such complete 

 and trutiiful information as the camera. Delightful and fascinat- 

 ing, because it not only gives worthy purpose and charming zest 

 to all outing trips, but yields results that tell in no uncertain way 

 of things and incidents that it would be well nigh impossible to 

 preserve in any other manner. There is no department of nature- 

 study in which the camera cannot be turned to excellent account, 

 and while records of lasting and scientific value are being made, 

 the devotee of amateur photography has at the same time full 

 scope for the study of his art. What may, perhaps, be considered 

 the greatest value, albeit an unrecognized one, of the present wide- 

 spread camera craze, is the development of a love for the beautiful 

 and artistic which may result, and along the line of study here sug- 

 gested may surely be found abundant material to stimulate in the 

 highest degree these qualities. Too much time is spent and too 

 much effort expended by the average 'kodaker' in what has been 

 aptly termed "reminiscent photography," the results being of but 

 momentary interest and of no particular value to anybody. 



In the present and subsequent articles, it is intended to illus- 

 trate by pictures actually taken in the field by the veriest tyro in 

 the art of photography, what may be accomplished by any properly 

 equipped amateur in the way of securing portraits of our native 

 birds in their wild state and amid their natural surroundings. Sup- 

 plemental to such portraits are the more easily taken photographs 

 of the nests, eggs, young, and natural haunts of each species ; the 

 whole graphically depicting the most interesting epoch in the life- 

 history of an}' bird. Words alone fail to tell the story so clearly, 

 so beautifully, and so forcibly. And, best of all, this can be ac- 

 complished without carrying bloodshed and destruction into the 

 ranks of our friends the birds ; for we all love to call the birds 

 our friends, yet some of us are not, I fear, always quite friendly 

 in our dealings with them. To take their pictures and pictures of 

 their homes is a peaceful and harmless sort of invasion of their 

 domains, and the results in most cases are as satisfactory and far- 



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