The Fish Hawks of Gardiner's Island 



i57 



in behavior. Their obedience 

 is instant and enduring. At 

 the complaining alarm whistle 

 of the parent, they squat flat 

 in the nest and hold their 

 position, possibly for hours, 

 or until the old bird is reas- 

 sured and permits them to 

 raise their heads. Unlike 

 young Terns, Gulls, or Skim- 

 mers, they make no effort to 

 move when touched, doubt- 

 less because they have no 

 means of escape. They there- 

 fore not only look, but act 

 like dead birds. One can turn 

 them on their backs or place 

 them in any position ; putty- 

 like they will remain, their 

 only movement being a rare 

 wink of the half-closed but 

 staring yellow-brown eye. When, however, the parent's suspicions are allaved, 

 and the young are permitted to move, they are often surprisingly alert and 

 active. 



The beach nests are exceptionally well situated for the purposes of bird 

 photography, and three of these nests furnished the subjects of my recent studies. 



FISH HAWK ALIGHTING 



The nest held three young (compare picture of feeding scene), 

 which are squatting low and are not visible 



*^£Sg 



FISH HAWK FEEDING YOUNG 



