356 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
September, 1909 
Photographing Birds 
By B. S. Bowdish 
(ee EQOIHOTOGRAPHY is one of the newest 
Me Ve methods in the study of birds. Up to a 
Bess ) 4 very few years ago apparently no one had 
given much thought to the possibilities that 
lay in the use of the 
camera among _ the 
feathered folk, in de- 
picting them and their entertaining ways. 
In 1900 there appeared “Bird Studies 
with a Camera,” by F. M. Chapman, 
one of the early pioneers in this use of 
the camera. In 1902 “The Home Life 
of Wild Birds,” by F. H. Herrick; “‘Na- 
ture and the Camera,” by A. Radclyfte 
Dugmore, and ‘“‘Nestlings of Forest and 
Marsh,’ by Irene G. Wheelock, were 
brought out. Since that time a number 
of books of such nature and many maga- 
zine articles illustrated by reproductions 
of Nature photographs have appeared. 
In many branches of photography cer- 
tain rules may be laid down, the follow- 
ing of which is a comparatively easy 
matter and means success, but in nature 
photography, and particularly in photo- 
graphing live birds, the element of 
chance has never been overcome, nor is there any apparent 
likelihood that it will be. Mr. William L. Finley, of Ore- 
gon, one of the most highly successful bird photographers 
in the country, who has a very extensive collection of beauti- 
ful results of his work with the camera, says that he has 
wasted thousands of plates, and he considers that with the 
best apparatus and the utmost skill one may expect to expose 
f 5 
A 
The focal plane camera in operation 
an average of a dozen plates for each thoroughly good 
negative secured. 
‘There are some few birds which, under favorable condi- 
tions (usually with young or eggs in the nest), afford com- 
paratively easy subjects for the photog- 
rapher, but, for the most part, birds are 
very shy and suspicious regarding a 
camera. 
With some species it has been found 
nearly or quite impossible to get them to 
come to their nests while camera and 
operator were near, even though both 
were well concealed. Mr. Chapman in- 
troduced a portable blind for concealing 
camera and operator, which has been 
widely adopted, with various modifica- 
tions, and which has contributed greatly 
to the success that has been achieved in 
bird photography. This arrangement 
consists of an umbrella, the handle set 
in a telescoping brass rod, one end of 
which is sharpened to push into the 
ground, the middle of the umbrella top 
being left open for ventilation, and a 
round tent of green cloth, gathered at 
the top, is draped over the frame and 
falls to the ground. ‘These tents offer no rude contrast to 
natural surroundings, and they may easily be draped with 
branches or vines, making them still less conspicuous. Small 
slits for peep-holes or to admit the lens of the camera are 
made in the walls of the tent as desired. 
No single rule applies, even with different individuals of 
the same species of bird. The bob-white has usually been 
Frame of the umbrella 
tent 
Camera with telephoto attachment for 
long-range work 
Umbrella tent for photographing 
birds 
