Photographing the Scarlet Tanager 



205 



chievous House Wren was the culprit this time. I now practically gave up 

 hope of getting any pictures of them this year. 



But better times were to come, and about a week had passed when I was 

 told of another Tanager's nest, only twelve feet from the ground and out in 

 the open, over a path, where the light and other conditions were excellent for 

 photography. 



We did not have time to visit the nest for a few days, and before having 

 done so, heard that the eggs had hatched and that the young were already 

 several days old. A few days later found us at the nest, with a tall stepladder, 

 tripod, and camera. The ladder was soon erected and, almost before it was in 

 place, we were greatly and agreeably surprised to see the female return and 

 feed her young, 

 paying no atten- 

 tion to the ladder 

 or to us. Heavy 

 teams were mov- 

 ing under the 

 nest all day long, 

 and this had 

 caused her to 

 lose almost all 

 fear of anything 

 coming near her 

 nest. While the 

 camera was be- 

 ing focused on 

 the young, she 

 again returned 

 and evidenced 

 absolutely no 

 fear of either 



camera or man only three feet away. We were more than delighted ! Such a 

 remarkable bird after the disappointing experiences we had had with others 

 of her kind ! The camera clicked each time she returned to the nest. Several 

 times a picture was taken, the slide replaced, and a second exposure made 

 before she left the nest for more food, all without any great show of concern 

 on her part. She was such a wonderfully good subject that more than a dozen 

 pictures were soon taken. 



The day was warm, and the young seemed to require no brooding, for the 

 general routine at the nest was as follows: first, she fed the clamoring young, 

 then she observed them quietly for a moment, and, finally, before going in 

 search of more food, she thoroughly inspected and cleaned the nest. During 

 the time she was at the nest, we, of course, refrained from making any sudden 



MALE SCARLET TAXAGER AND YOUNG 



