Chapter IV 



PHOTOGRAPHING NESTS AND YOUNG BIRDS 



IN making notes on young birds the camera will be found to 

 be most useful, as it shows exactly the growth of feathers and 

 other points of interest ; but here again it is necessary to be par- 

 ticular as to the age of the bird. Guesswork will not do, as a 

 single day often makes a great difference in the appearance of 

 young birds. It is extraordinary with what rapidity they grow. 



In order to secure good photographs great patience is neces- 

 sary, especially so in the case of young robins and others of the 

 thrush family, for they are very shy even before they can fly. 



Any good long-focus camera with the regular lens will do, 

 but of course a very rapid lens will give better results. The lens 

 that has given me the greatest satisfaction, both on account of its 

 rapidity and depth of focus, is the Goerz, series III. 



My method of photographing the bird before it can stand is 

 to place it on a piece of smooth white or light-gray paper laid on 

 a flat surface and raised at the farther side so as to form a per- 

 fectly smooth blank background with no lines or creases ; this 

 may be placed in the sunlight or shadow, according to the speed 

 of the lens. 



A very quick shutter is essential, owing to the rapid breath- 

 ing of the bird when young and to its restlessness when able to 

 perch (in a life-sized photograph the slightest movement shows 

 unless the shutter works with unusual rapidity). Once the young- 

 sters can fly, it is necessary to make some sort of enclosure ; this 

 may be arranged temporarily by hanging some white cheesecloth 

 in the sunlight, with a piece of mosquito netting at the top so as 

 to allow sufficient light inside. Sunlight may be used to advan- 

 tage in some instances to give striking effects of light and shade. 

 (When sunlight is used, a developer rather weak in pyro will be 

 found to give the best results.) 



