44 



Bird- Lore 



fore the female left the nest and joined her mate, who had been keep- 

 ing guard in a neighboring plum tree. 



After focusing my camera to within three feet of the post, and 

 arranging a string attachment, I concealed myself in some bushes 

 about seventy-five feet away. I waited patiently for ten minutes 



before the female left the 

 tree and flew down to the 

 fence. The male followed 

 close after, and they hopped 

 about the post and wires, 

 getting nearer and nearer 

 the nest, until the fe- 

 male flew straight into the 

 hole. A snap-shot, just be- 

 fore she reached the en- 

 trance, was only partially 

 successful, but shows very 

 clearly the pose of the bird's 

 head and neck while it was 

 in the air. It was made in 

 a twenty-fifth of a second 

 with the lens stopped down 

 to sixteen. I disturbed the 

 female Several times before 

 she gained the desired posi- 

 tion at the nest-opening ; 

 but. finally, the snap of 

 the shutter helped bring to 

 life one of my best bird- 

 pictures. 



A knowledge of the bird's 

 nesting habits is a prime 

 requisite in avian photog- 

 raphy. Much patience is 

 needed, as failures are very 

 numerous. A camera which may be focussed to within two or three 

 feet is an absolute necessity in order to make the picture large 

 enough. Most of my failures have been caused by the lack of 

 bright sunlight, under-exposure, or movement of the bird the 

 instant the picture was taken ; but one good photograph is sufficient 

 reward for many trials. 



BLUEBIRD AT NEST 



