BIRDS OF OUR BUSH 



locality, we have no hesitation in. saying that, notwith- 

 standing the undeniable fact that many rare and interest- 

 ing birds are found almost exclusively in the deep mountain 

 gully, the right and proper locality for the beginner is that 

 growth of small trees and shrubs which marks the course 

 of some stream through open or lightly-timbered country. 

 Our reason for recommending such a locality is twofold. 

 In the first place, the smaller native birds nest in greater 

 numbers in the class of country such as that around 

 Eltham, Greensborough and Ringwood, than they do 

 in the deep forest. Secondly — and most importantly — 

 a good deal of experience and knowledge is usually neces- 

 sary to enable the photographer to overcome the disabilities 

 as to lighting which the dense timber imposes. However, 

 whether the beginner takes or disregards this advice, he 

 will do well to remember that the belt of country within 

 a few hundred yards on either side of a stream, wherever it 

 may be, is the favourite haunt of small birds. 



The location of the nests themselves will perhaps appear 

 to some such an easy matter as to render advice in this 

 direction unnecessary. Our personal experience, however, 

 of the number of nests which are passed unnoticed by the 

 keenest observer prompts us to venture a few suggestions. 

 The beginner is fairly certain to adopt the amateur plan of 

 peering to right and left in search of the nests which 

 happen to be directly along his path. A more satisfactory 

 method, both from the point of view of interest and of 

 efficiency, is to allow the birds themselves, by their move- 

 ments, to point the way to their homes. It is a surprising 

 fact that, if the observer sits or stands quietly and watches 

 the movements of the birds about him, he will in a few 

 minutes probably locate several nests where a haphazard 

 search would have revealed none at all. We have always 

 found our lunch-time spent in a likely locality to be 

 specially productive in this direction. We do not wish it 

 to be understood that we do not also keep a very sharp look- 

 out for nests even in the absence of the birds. Some classes 

 of nest show very little attempt at concealment. The 

 observer should also inform himself, if possible, of the 

 usual situation of the nest whose owner he happens to have 

 under observation, and also of the period of the year during 

 which nests may be expected. By this means he averts 

 the very considerable danger of a painstaking search for 



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