8 THE AUDUBON, BULUCE CEN 
Photographing the Least Bittern 
By ALFRED M. BAILEY 
Chicago Academy of Sctences 
HE small marshes which are found in almost every part of 
: Illinois, are the homes of many species of water birds. These 
ponds are often along main thoroughfares, but the birds have 
adapted themselves to changed conditions and return to their nesting 
places year after year. There are a half dozen small tule and cat-tail 
grown marshes within half an hour’s ride of La Grange, Illinois, and 
Least and American Bitterns, King and Sora Rails, Coots, and Grebes 
are of rather common occurrence. 
Water birds which do not nest in colonies are ordinarily very shy, and 
they return to their nests reluctantly after they are once disturbed. We 
have been photographing birds for the Chicago Academy of Sciences 
during the past summer, and it has been interesting to note the reaction 
of the various species to the photographic blind, and to see the differences 
in individuals of the same species. A bird which nests commonly in 
these marshes is the Least Bittern. It builds its frail platform in dense 
growths of tule, a foot or so above the water; the four chalky-white eggs 
are laid, and the brooding bird incubates in safety. The Bitterns are 
extremely shy, and leave the nest when they hear a commotion in the 
water, and as they always creep away, instead of flying, it is only by a 
careful search that the nest is found. Mr. Edwin Komarek, of the Acad- 
emy staff, had been studying birds near La Grange, and he located 
several nests of these little herons, that we might take motion pictures 
for our film library. We had been told by another photographer that 
the Least Bitterns were extremely shy, so we erected our photographic 
blind twelve feet away and left it a few days, that the old bird might 
become accustomed to it. 
There were four eggs in the nest when we found it on July 13. The 
adult was not seen, and on our return two days later, we failed to see 
her, even though we approached as quietly as possible. The motion 
picture machine was set in place, and I entered the blind, while Mr. 
Kkomarek waded off to the far end of the pond. He had scarcely gone 100 
yards when the Least Bittern came walking over the aquatic vegetation 
and climbed upon the nest, apparently oblivious to the grinding of the 
motion picture machine. The little heron settled upon her eggs, turned 
them with her beak, and, all in all, behaved in a very satisfactory man- 
ner. After securing all the film I desired at that stage, I rustled the 
blind slightly, and the Bittern quickly left the nest. 
The first egg was hatched July 25. I moved the blind within six feet 
and returned the following day to find that three eggs were hatched. 
