The Nesting of the Greenshank 



greenshank, on flying off, alighted on the top of a fir tree near, 

 repeatedly uttering her wild cry. By May 23 the hide was 

 moved to within fifteen feet of the nest. It was covered over 

 with layers of fir branches, and was so inconspicuous that 

 it was difficult to see until one was almost upon it. On this 

 day I entered the tent, being covered in afterwards by my 

 companion, who walked on past the nest to distract the bird's 

 attention. After calling loudly the greenshank walked silently 

 up and settled unsuspectingly on her eggs. Upon my imi- 

 tating, or attempting to imitate, a curlew's whistle, she left 

 the eggs instantly, but quickly returned, nor would she 

 move again even although the same whistling was repeated 

 loudly and frequently. She seemed to think the noise came 

 — as it should have done — from the sky, for on hearing it 

 she looked skyward. 



On May 26, a day of brilliant sunshine and tropical heat, 

 the sitting greenshank was again visited, and the hiding- 

 tent moved to about eight feet from the nest. After I 

 had been closed up in the hide the greenshank quickly re- 

 turned, but this time she was wary, not liking the look of 

 the lens which peered out at her through a hole cut in the 

 front of the hide. At the end of ninety minutes she had not 

 ventured on to her eggs, and my companion then returning to 

 hear how I had fared, I decided that a further vigil would be 

 necessary. Curiously enough, this second time, the mother 

 greenshank returned within five minutes to a point a foot 

 or two from the eggs, but lacked courage to settle down 

 on them. 



She brooded imaginary eggs in other places, but the eye 

 of the camera staring at her, Cyclops-like, was too much for 

 her nerves. Not many minutes elapsed before her mate flew 

 up and settled on a dead branch a few yards off, speaking 

 soothingly to her in soft and very musical flute-like calls. 

 Then he walked past close to the eggs, apparently in the 

 endeavour to discover the cause of his mate's alarm. Calling 

 softly to her he took wing, whereupon she joined him and 



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