no 



THE OSPREY. 



grasses and hair, containing the five beautifully 

 speckled eggs. There was no mistaking their 

 identity f'>r Mrs. Creeper was present to claim 

 them. She was always present whenever I 

 visited the place later and ever willing to have 

 her picture taken while at home. 



The opposite was true of her husband whom I 

 never chanced to meet. He was never at home 

 and though I tried my best to provoke his pres- 

 ence he never appeared upon the scene. I am 

 sorry to say that only four of the live eggs gave 

 rise to young Creepers on the 2oth of May, the 

 fifth proved infertile, and I must also state that 

 I was thoroughly happy when I noted on the <>th 



by a Wood Thrush, which had placed its nest 

 out on one of the lower boughs of a beach. 



The Redstarts. Yellow-throated and Red-eyed 

 Vireos failed us likewise. But the Ovenbird 

 was still faithful to her charge and guarded care- 

 fully her over-arched nest with its four eggs, 

 just acioss and a little north of the stepping 

 stones, not four feet from the path. I do not 

 understand why Aurocapillian reasoning should 

 select such open sites, but my experience has 

 taught me to look for their nests in open places, 

 which seemed to afford less shelter than many 

 others which to me appeared more suitable, and 

 better protected. 



THE OVENBIKD'S NEST 



'4 June that this dear faithful little mother had 

 led her four young from the ever impinging 

 confines of their cradle into a world all new t<> 

 them. Even now when I meet the Creepers in 

 this end of the park I feel that it must be my 

 company and wish them well, wondering if they 

 too remember the many times I placed my 

 camera in position, to note most effectively the 

 progress they were making in their cozy nest 

 "ti tin- deeply shaded hill-side. 



( hi the 23d we met at the loop, loaded for pic- 

 tures. Striking immediately down the steep 

 embankment we looked carefully for the Acadian 

 Flycatcher's nest among- the branches of the 

 spreading beech trees, but were rewarded only 



This nest was well arched over with dead 

 grasses, in fact, appeared just like a bunch of 

 dead grass, but the low opening" at one side told 

 a different story — well recorded in the accom- 

 panying picture. 



We recrossed the creek next and spent a long 

 three quarters of an hour with the Blue-Greys. 

 Mrs. was at home, but left the nest as I was 

 climbing the tree. She remained nearby how- 

 ever, and appeared less nervous than I was. 

 while I attached first one. then another of the 

 legs of my tripod to this and that, and a neigh- 

 boring twig, while standing- on a small swaying 

 branch some 18 feet above the water. The 

 tripod was finally fixed and lent some regidity 



