FRIENDS IN FEATHERS 



brooding Doves; a thing I have not yet seen done by any other 

 field worker. After I had secured these studies, I understood 

 precisely why Dove reproductions are not plentiful. 



The first brooded on a heap of driftwood hanging on the 

 north bank of the Wabash where it flows west through Shimp's 

 meadow. Bob had no idea how long the bird had brooded when 

 he found her. The location was so low I could set up my camera 

 on the ground, but I was hampered in my movements by being 

 forced to work through a woven wire fence on the edge of the 

 bank, while the rapidly rising water of a spring freshet threatened 

 to carry away the nest at any minute. The time of my first visit 

 was five in the afternoon, later than I try, as a rule, to do field 

 work; but on account of the flood I was doubtful whether 

 the nest w^ould be there until morning. So quietly and with 

 all the caution possible I set up a camera. Focussing on the 

 nest was slow work on account of having to push the lens between 

 the wires of the fence, and at the same time keep the proper 

 range. The bird sat throughout the long performance without 

 showing the slightest inclination to move; but went with a whirr 

 when I began to take down the camera. As the nest was in great 

 peril from the flood I also made a study of it and the eggs, think- 

 ing very probably it would be gone before another day. I went 

 away jubilant, believing Doves were easy and that with morning 

 light I could secure a much better picture, as the little gray 

 mother was coloured so like her surroundings that it was difficult 

 to distinguish her from the driftwood. 



When the light was right the following morning I approached 

 with usual caution, but there was a whirr of wings before I came 

 in sight of the nest. When I reached it I saw at a glance that 

 the bird had been bound by the brooding fever the previous 

 evening, for there was a pair of newly hatched babies in the 

 nest and bits of shell around it. I hastily set up and focussed 



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