Snapping the Back-yard Birds 



i6s 



Goldfinches to reach, the Brewer's Blackbirds had little trouble in standing 

 on the ground and taking their refreshment as the drops came from the iron. 

 I allowed it to run just a few drops at a time so I could amuse myself watching 

 the birds reach up for the water. As a matter of fact they seemed to enjoy this 

 method of getting a drink about as well as any. There were three similar 

 hydrants in the yard, so I had to keep two of them dry in order to get the birds 

 in front of the one where the camera was located. It didn't take long for them 

 to get into the habit of coming here, however, for they soon made this their 

 Coney Island even when the others were running and in spite of the camera 

 which stood only three feet away. The Blackbirds certainly valued fresh water, 

 even insisted upon having it, for they utterly disregarded a pan of water stand- 

 ing below the hydrant — chose rather to crane their necks and catch the drops 

 as they dripped from the pipe. These birds were just a little wary of the kodak 

 and would edge up to the hydrant, get a drink, and scurry away when they 

 heard the snapping of the shutter. 



GOLDFINCH 



