PHOTOGRAPHING NESTS AND EGGS 45 



photo only when it is not possible to get as near as 

 would be otherwise necessary. 



Some birds, such as the yellow-breasted chats, I 

 have never been able to photograph sitting on or 

 near their nests, though I have wasted many hours in 

 the attempt. With red-winged blackbirds I have 

 had the same experience, and though this does not 

 prove that they cannot be photographed, it shows 

 that they are on the average far less tame than the 

 wood-thrush, the blue-winged warbler, and some 

 others with which I have had nothing but good luck. 

 The main thing, therefore, if you wish to be always 

 successful in photographing birds on their nests, is to 

 find birds that are tame. Having found them, use a 

 long-focus lens, give sufficient exposure, and you will 

 be sure of success. 



PART IV 

 PHOTOGRAPHING NESTS WITH OLD BIRDS AND THEIR YOUNG 



Outfit same as Part III. 



From photographing the parent bird sitting peace- 

 fully on her nest to the task of portraying the same 

 bird standing nervously on the edge of the nest or on 

 a near-by twig, while the young hold up their unsteady 

 heads in anticipation of a meal, is but a step on the 

 photographic ladder ; it is a difficult step, however, 

 for the obstacles are many and not over-easily mas- 



