160 METHODS OF ATTRACTING BIRDS 



Photographing Birds at Nesting-houses. 

 It has been the author's experience that the birds 

 which nest around buildings or come there for 

 food have become so tame and accustomed to 

 the proximity of human beings that they can be 

 photographed with great ease. With both blue- 

 birds and house wrens, almost as soon as the 

 camera was in position the birds came to the nest, 

 and it was necessary for the operator to retire 

 only a short distance, and in some cases probably 

 he might have remained at the camera. The 

 opportunity offered of securing photographs 

 with but little trouble is an excellent one. If the 

 house is in a position difficult of access for setting 

 up the camera, it may easily be lowered without 

 alarming the birds, and then replaced in its 

 first position after the pictures have been secured. 

 The author has tried this with both bluebirds and 

 wrens, and the feeding of the young went on as 

 usual after the house had been changed, although 

 in one case the male bluebird came much less fre- 

 quently to the nest. 



As a convenience in moving the house, the 

 reader is referred to the method of putting up 

 houses explained on pages 78 and 79. An observa- 

 tion box, made as suggested on pages 20 and 21, 

 allows opportunity for photographing the young 

 as well as the old birds. 



