The Audubon Societies 199 



PHOTOGRAPHING NESTING BIRDS 



I have been observing birds for about a year. I live in a large city but 

 near a grove of trees where I have had many chances for study. 



One day while hunting for nests I found one with four baby Mocking- 

 birds in it. The next time I went three had grown very much but one was 

 little and had no feathers. The third time I went my mother went with me 

 and we took a kodak. One of the birds was gone. I took the other three care- 

 fully out of the nest and placed them on my hand while the inclosed picture was 

 taken. The mother bird hovered anxiously around, and came quite near. I 

 put them carefully back in the nest and stepped back to see what the mother 

 bird would do. She would not come to the nest while we were there. One of 

 the birds tumbled out but we put it back. As we were going away the mother 

 bird flew to the nest with something in her mouth. 



I have observed the following birds this year: 



Mockingbird, Dove, Scissor-tail, Hedge Sparrow, Field Lark, Wren, Hum- 

 mingbird, Cardinal, Blue Jay, Chicken Hawk, Buzzard, Crow, Blackbird, 

 Martin, Wild Geese, Chaparral (-cock), Mexican Canary. Heard but not seen: 

 Whip-poor-will, Bob-white, Screech Owl. Three unidentified. — Marvin Hall 

 (Age 10 years), Dallas, Texas, Dec. 191 5. 



[Many times the question is asked whether it is wise to attempt to photograph nest- 

 ing birds if one is an amateur photographer. Even with the greatest care accidents or 

 mishaps may occur, which makes it seem doubtful. The writer once permitted a stu- 

 dent to take a baby Spotted Sandpiper from the nest to photograph. The sun was hot 

 on the exposed sand-spit where the nest was located, and, although the time of making 

 the picture seemed short, the little Sandpiper died within a few hours, since the timid 

 parents failed to return to the nest promptly enough to shelter it from the heat. Cer- 

 tain species have less fear than others, which makes the operations of photography easier, 

 but even an expert must exercise the greatest care and endless patience to secure pic- 

 tures without injuring the nestlings. Young birds which are about to fly, if disturbed, 

 will usually flutter from the nest and fall, while the excitement of being handled is often 

 dangerous. In the case of such large species as the Osprey, which stays weeks on the 

 nest before attaining the power to fly, one may approach the open, exposed nest and 

 stroke the nestlings, if careful not to make sudden movements, provided the parents do 

 not interfere. In general, however, it is best to avoid handling nestlings. A picture of 

 the nest with the sitting parent, or of the parents and young after the latter have left 

 the nest, may sometimes be secured advantageously. 



Certain suspicious species, like the Goldfinch, may abandon a newly made nest if 

 it has been disturbed, even during their absence. 



The foregoing communication bears a double message, therefore, for while it describes 

 a successful bird-photograph, it also suggests the danger of disturbing nestlings by 

 exciting them so that they fall out of the nest. — A. H. W.j 



CAUGHT IN A SHOWER 



"These members of the 'Wake Robin' Club in Philadelphia are wearing 

 hats improvised by themselves. Caught in a heavy rain during a bird walk. 



