170 Photography for the Sportsman Naturalist 



When the young are still in the nest they are 

 easily photographed, and a series showing the dif- 

 ferent stages of their growth is very interesting. 

 In doing this it is sometimes necessary to admit 

 the sunlight to the nest, but the foliage should be 

 pressed and tied back in such a manner that it 

 can be readily returned to its former position, 



and the direct rays of 

 the sun allowed to 

 remain on the nest as 

 short a time as pos- 

 sible ; for, with very 

 young birds especially, 

 a short exposure to the 

 sun is sufficient to kill 

 them. 



Now is the time, 

 too, to obtain pictures 

 of the old bird feed- 

 ing and brooding her 

 young and attending to the other duties at the 

 nest. It is best not to attempt to do this until 

 the young are at least half grown and have 

 strength to enable them to bear a considerable 

 exposure to the sun's rays, for it is necessary to 

 have as strong a light upon them as possible, as 

 on account of the extreme shortness of the ex- 

 posure that we must give it is impossible to 

 obtain a picture in the shade. 



Screech Owl Asleep by Nest Hole. 



