A Visit with Cedar Waxwings 



295 



mistake a passing bird for one of their parents and start precipitately to beg, 

 the young remain discreetly silent while the old birds are away. 



The present family of five young were not ready to leave the nest until the 

 middle of August. The old Waxwings usually returned with two or three berries 

 in the crop in addition to one in the beak. A large raspberry would be stuffed 

 down a gaping beak, then, behold, another one miraculously appeared, and was 

 held tentatively a moment before being fed to the next youngster. No amount 

 of stuffing satisfied these hungry little beggars, which, flapping their wings, 

 pleaded in the way natural to young birds. 



The near presence of an unobtrusive visitor did not long prevent these 

 Waxwings from proceeding with their home duties. After the first day, which 



A HUNGRY FAMILY AND ITS PARENTS 



was necessarily spent gaining the acquaintance of the family, many satisfac- 

 tory photographs were secured without serious difficulty. The old birds 

 would now and then fly around the camera to inspect this strange instru- 

 ment, and, without the least fear, several times alighted on it. At other times 

 they would sail back for a good look at me, where I lay about twenty feet 

 distant, partly concealed in the tall grass, with thread in hand for releasing 

 the shutter. 



While photographing wild birds one has a splendid opportunity to study 

 their home life and habits which he should make the most of, taking full notes 

 of his observations at the end of the day's outing. It should not be concluded 

 because Cedar Waxwings are relatively tame as compared with some other 

 species, that obtaining satisfactory photographs of them is a matter of ease, 

 uncoupled with skill and perseverance. 



