40 



bitterns, rails, and other marsh birds, but also in going close to 

 the smaller land birds in trees and bushes on the bank. For 

 this purpose the canoe is much superior to the rowboat. It is 

 noiseless and the paddler faces the bow. Many birds may be 

 seen at close range by working a sailboat up or down a river 

 before a light, fair breeze. A small boat covered with bushes, 

 and sculled or allowed to drift down on birds, sometimes is 

 useful. A fast-sailing boat is one of the best devices for ap- 

 proaching swimming birds on a windy day. Such a boat 

 maneuvered skilfully will be upon the birds before they are 

 aware of its nearness. During a squall I once drove a sloop 

 so near a sheldrake that the bird rose on. the next sea as we 

 swept past. There is an advantage in sailing down wind, as 

 the bird must rise toward you against the wind, and may come 

 quite near, giving a good view, first of the breast and then of 

 the back as it turns away. The noisy motor boat is the 

 abomination of the bird student. It has driven most of the 

 waterfowl from our eastern rivers. 



Watching Birds' Nests. 



When birds have young in the nest they usually are less 

 shy than at other times, forgetting their regard for their own 

 safety in their solicitude for the welfare of their offspring. 

 Therefore they are then comparatively easy to approach. 

 For this reason, if for no other, the bird student should strive 

 to find the nesting sites. He should hunt for the nests of 

 birds in winter, or very early in spring, while the trees are still 

 leafless. Some birds use the old nest, others build again on the 

 same bush or tree, or near it. A record of the old nests found 

 will tell the searcher w^here to look for new ones in nesting 

 time. By visiting such situations when birds are nesting one 

 may see the birds carrying building material to their new nests. 



A word of caution is necessary here, however. Those who 

 have found and watched birds' nests often complain that some- 

 thing usually happens to the eggs or the young birds. I have 

 learned by sad experience that a close and frequent examination 

 of a bird's nest in the woods only serves to call the attention of 

 the bird's enemies. There are creatures always on the watch 

 for an opportunity to rob birds' nests. The fox sometimes fol- 



