Photographing Birds and their Young 175 



would happen if the old birds should stay away 

 too long. 



I do not believe in, nor can I advocate, the 

 changing of the nesting site under any but the 

 most extraordinary conditions, for it not only 

 shows the nest and contents among false sur- 

 roundings, but it greatly endangers the life of the 

 young. To cut off the limb of a tree containing 

 a nest and remove it to some more convenient 

 place is, I know, often an easier matter than to 

 photograph it in situ, especially when that nest 

 happens to be some distance from the ground ; 

 and so this is the method employed by many 

 bird photographers to save themselves time and 

 trouble. 



In fact, one man openly advocates doing this 

 in a book which he has written and in which he 

 terms it " control of the nesting site." When a 

 nest is so situated that it is difficult to photo- 

 graph it in its original position, he removes it, 

 branch and all, to a suitable spot and sets it up 

 again outside of a tent placed there for the pur- 

 pose of concealing himself and camera. " This 

 sudden displacement of the nesting bough," the 

 author remarks, " is of no special importance to 

 either young or old, provided certain precautions 

 are taken ; " and he goes on to say that " with 

 some species it is possible to make the necessary 

 change without evil consequences when there are 



