When the North Wind Blows 



405 



DOWNY AND HAIRY WOODPECKERS AT A SUET-STATION 

 'Double-headers' offer a new field for those who have photographed all the birds that come 



to their feeding-stations 



blind, though it is rather cold and cramped for winter use and does not 

 last long if left in a permanent position. A box to conceal the camera, which 

 is manipulated from a distance by a thread or electric device is the next most 

 satisfactory way. At any rate, the blind or box should be kept permanently 

 in place so that the birds will be accustomed to it and no useless waits ensue. 

 The first ambition of the winter bird photographer is naturally to secure 

 as perfect a picture as possible of each bird that comes to the feeding-station. 

 When these have been secured, however, one has really only begun. One pose 

 of a bird will not show all of its distinctive marks. If one wishes to show well 

 the spot on the breast of the Tree Sparrow, for example, he must take a front 

 view of the bird, but this will not reveal the conspicuous wing-bars nor display the 

 bird to advantage. Again, photographs of the Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers 

 look very much alike, because there is ordinarily nothing in the photograph by 

 which one can judge size. We took a good deal of pleasure, therefore, at one 

 feeding-station, in drilling a hole clear through a small sapling and filling it 

 with suet so that a bird could feed on one side of the tree without disturbing 

 the bird on the other, and both be in focus at the same time. In this way many 

 double-headers' were taken, but it was some time before we got the Downy 

 and Hairy together and showed, photographically, the difference in size of 

 the two birds. {To be concluded) 



