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JUL 27 .

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CAMERA STUDIES

OF

WILD BIRDS

IN THEIR H0ME5

Open Siiclf l^qom

CHESTER A. REED, B. S.

Author of "Land Birds," "Water Birds," "Flower Guide,
"Nature Studies," "North American Birds' Eggs," etc.

With More than 200 Illustrations from Photographs
of Living: Wild Birds

1911
W. B. CLARKE COMPANY

Boston, Mass. /

M

0,

ii

• • • •

■id' .

Copyrighted 1911
Chas. K. Reed. Worcester. Mass.

PREFACE

Although I had previously made many photographs in
which living birds formed either the chief or a secondary
object of the picture, it was in the year nineteen hundred
that my first real efforts in the line of bird photography
were made. The paths of camera-hunters in this line are
not by any means strewn with roses. I have had my share
of the necessary hard work, hardships, sometimes dangers,
disappointments and the many failures to be expected. On
the other hand, I have as results about two thousand good
negatives and several thousand others not satisfactory to
me but still passably good.

Success or failure depends practically upon the dispo-
sitions of the individual birds selected as subjects. If they
are willing, — you get the picture; if not, — you pack up
your outfit and depart, chalking down another failure. I
have been very fortunate in this respect for "my" birds
have nearly always proved very tractable; what failures
I have recorded have been due chiefly to the fact that I
was not willing to cause undue suffering to the little birds
either from lack of food or too long exposure to hot sun-
rays. I have always worked upon the principle that no
bird photograph is worth even the risk of destruction to a
nest of little birds. I speak of this because I wish to im-
press upon all my readers who may undertake bird pho-
tography that pictures must always take a place secondary
to the welfare of the little birds.
I A few minutes exposure to hot rays of a burning sun may
prove fatal to young birds; — therefore always when possi-
ble have them shaded. Digestion, in a young bird, takes
place very rapidly; ai^ hour without food may prove fatal
to a very young bird, — therefore do not be the means of
causing the parents to withhold food from the little ones
for long at a time. Changing the location of a nest even

but a short distance may cause the owners to desert it or
may leave it exposed to attacks from cats^ squirrels or other
enemies, — therefore do not for anj^ reason remove a nest
from its original site.

I have selected, as far as possible, pictures in series show-
ing the various happenings at nests of the different birds.
Unfortunately limited space will not permit of show'ing
my large series of sea birds and birds of prey, so I have
selected chiefly the more common song and insectivorous
birds.

Every half-tone shown is from a photograph of an au-
thentic nest in its original location as chosen by the bird
or of living, free, wild birds. The majority of these are
of my own making, but to fill in series I have used a few
that have been published in American Ornithology. I wish
to give credit to the makers of these as follows :
G. C. Embody, Fig. 13.
C. A. Smith, Fig. 105-6, 83.
A. R. Dugmore, Fig. 104, 212.
G. E. Moulthrope, Fig. 44-5, 50, 253.
J. H. Miller, Fig. 41, 80, 252, 254, 71, 111.
J. E. Seebold, Fig. 34-5.

R. H. Beebe, Fig. 114, 234, 242, 62, 67, 257, 189, 85-6.
I. E. Hess, Fig. 248-9, 9S.

E. L. Bickford, Fig. l66.

J. M. Schreck, Fig. 238, 246-7-
A. R. Spaid, Fig. 69, 70, 130.
A. J. Meyer, Fig. 199-
L. S. Horton, Fig. 97, 8

F. R. Miller, Fig. 135-6, 48, 51. ^ ,
N. F. Stone, Fig. 17, 53.

W. F. Smith, Fig. 73, 122.

A. D. Wheedon, Fig. 250, 112.

CONTENTS

Introduction 7

Bird Studies in Black and White 9

HKThe Chickadee (13 illustrations) 9

The Nuthatch (13 illustrations) 21

Am Scouts 31

Chimney Swift (3 illustrations) 31

Nighthawk (4 illustrations) 36

Whip-poor-will (3 illustrations) 43

Tree Swallow (1 illustration) 46

Bank Swallow (2 illustrations) 47

Bird Masons 51

•=t^hoehe (6 illustrations) 51

Barn Swallow (5 illustrations) 59

Expert Flycatchers 65

Chebec (6 illustrations) 65

Redstart (3 illustrations) 69

Blue Skies and Blue Birds 75

cr^luebird (10 illustrations) 75

Blue Jay (7 illustrations) 82

MoSS-COVERED HoMES 91

Hummingbird (4 illustrations) 91

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1 illustration) 97

Wood Pewee (1 illustration) 98

Favorite Songsters 103

Goldfinch (2 illustrations) 101

j^obin (13 illustrations) 103

Veery (4 illustrations) 117

"^ood Thrush (3 illustrations) 123

Grosbeak (3 illustrations) 125

Catbird (6 illustratioM# 130

' Brown Thrasher (7 illustrations) 135

Birds of Silence 143

Cedarbird (8 illustrations) 143

Cuckoos (7 illustrations) 152

6

Only Sparrows 159

Shipping Sparrow (10 illustrations) 159

Song Sparrow (2 illustrations) 170

Field Sparrow (4 illustrations) 172

Grasshopper Sparrow (1 illustration) 176

The Imposter 179

J -Maryland Yellow-throat 179

Cowbird (5 illustrations) 179

Swinging Homes 186

Red-eyed Vireo (7 illustrations) 186

Bush-Tit (2 illustrations) 195

Th^ Gleaners 199

' Golden-winged Warbler 198

Black-and- White Warbler (7 illustrations) 199

Chest. -sided Warbler (6 illustrations) 207

Prairie Warbler (3 illustrations) 211

Ovenbird (3 illustrations) 217

" Yellow Warbler (1 illustration) 219

Fisher-Birds 223

Kingfisher (9 illustrations) 223

Osprey (4 illustrations) 231

My Sandpiper Friends 239

(9 illustrations)

The Woodland Apartment 251

'^Downy Woodpecker (14 illustrations) 251

House Wren (10 illustrations) 262

Carolina Wren (1 illustration) 270

Feathered Tyrants 271

Kingbird (10 illustrations) 271

Arkansas Kingbird (1 illustration) 280

Rocky Mountain Jay (2 illustrations) 279

Loggerhead Shrike (6 illustrations) 284

The Wood-Hewers 295

Flicker (4 illustrations) 295

Red-headed Woodpecker (2 illustrations) 297

Sapsucker (2 illustrations) 299

How Bird Photographs are Made 305

Index 311

INTRODUCTION.

Very few persons as they look at pictures in magazines
or in books ever give an instant's thought as to the time,
the patience or perhaps hardships the photographer might
have endured in the making of them. With the general
public, the prevalent idea is that anyone with a camera of
any kind can take a "snap-shot" of anything and get a
good picture. As a matter of fact, very few good pictures
of any subject are ever secured by the commonly accepted
"snap-shot" method. Some thought and study, even though
it be done almost instantly, must be given as to the comj)Osi-
tion and the probable appearance of the finished picture.

I have done nearly all kinds of photography, — land-
scape, marine, portraiture, pet animals, press photography
(which is very exacting), etc. I do not believe that any
other class of photography offers the difficulties or has as
large a percentage of failures as will be encountered by
one who essays photographing living, wild birds.

Some of the pictures that follow were obtained with the
greatest of ease but they were of exceptional birds and I am
duly thankful to them for the consideration they showed
me. Others represent hours and even days of hard work
and frequent disappointments. It was only by tlie very
narrowest margin that the taking of one of the series shown
did not lead to the printing of my obituary.

In the last chapter I give some details that may be of
assistance to those who wish to make pictures of birds. I
only speak of the difficulties here so that those who scan the
pictures on the succeeding pages may not think one can
grab up a camera, rush to the woods and take pictures of
birds offhand. Just remember that more than seventy-five
per cent, of the adult birds, whose pictures are shown, were
between three and four feet from the lens of the camera
and figure out how many birds you ever approached as
closely as that.

BIRD STUDIES IN BLACK AND WHITE

The Chickadee

We were wending our way along a narrow country lane,
hedged in on either side b}^ stone walls and bushes, when
a clear "phe-be," whistled in that high-pitched, clear tone,
such as only the Chickadee can produce, attracted our atten-
tion. A few steps more we went, and the song suddenly
?eased and changed to a series of "dee-dee-dee's" uttered

?^ ^

Fig. 2. NEST OF CHICKADEE.

Part of stump removed to shoiv the twelve eggs, --a very un-
usual number. In a birch "itub, barely two feet above ground.

10

Fig.

MADAM CHICKADEE AND HER HOME.

She has a green caterpillar in her beak; as it ivas a lively
one, she has beaten it on a branch until it is mis-shapen and
nearly dead.

as rapidly as they could come from the throat of an angry
bird.

It was very evident that we were uncomfortably near
her home, but in which direction it was, we did not know
and^ had she been wise and remained silent, we probably
never would have known. She came down very close to us
and we saw that she had her beak filled to the brim with

11

plant lice. How she could retain her grip upon them and
still "dee-dee" so vigorously was a mystery^, but the sound
poured forth as rapidly from between her closed mandibles
as it did later after she had deposited the food where it
belonged.

Naturally, with a mother bird anxious to feed her babies^
to help us, it required but a few minutes to locate the nest
in a small dead tree beside the w^alh Violent as had been
her protestations when we first found her, she soon became
quite reconciled to our presence and, in a short time, was
one of the tamest birds with which I have had to deal.

For the next three or four hours we camped out right be-
side her home and, from the protection of a small tent, made
a number of negatives of her and her mate going back and

Fig. 4. FATHER CHICKADEE AND HIS LOAD.

He was more shy than his mate and watched the tent closely
each time before entering.

13

forth. The little birds were fed^ on an average^ about once
in every four minutes^ the adults timing their visits so that
one was nearly always present.

Mrs. Chickadee nearly always brought a load of tiny
insects^ most often plant lice^, — so small that she must
have brought from twenty to forty at each trip. Her mate
was a philosopher, or it may have been that he was simply
lazy, for he always brought single, large, white grubs,
which certainly must have been easier to collect and perhaps
were more filling than quantities of mites.

Fig. 6. She was not timid and always lit on the side of the
branch nearest the tent, as though to shield her little ones.

In order to see the little Chickadees, we made the opening
to the nest a little larger. We found that they were pretty
large "little Chickadees" for the only difference in appear-
ance they showed from their parents was in abbreviated tail
feathers. There were six of them, five of which were very
capable of short flights; in fact one slipped through my
fingers and got away before I had a chance to see how large
they were.

When we decided to arrange the five little fellows, that
still remained, on a stick so that we might picture their par-

14

ents feeding them, I knew that we would have our hands
more than full; and my expectations were fully realized.

Mother Chickadee ought to have been very proud of her
children, and undoubtedly she w^as. They obeyed every
command from her, and she called "jump" (in bird lan-
guage) just as often as we placed them in position to suit
us. If it were possible to obtain a little knowledge of bird

Fig. 7. A SEXTETTE OF CHICKADEES.

Try as we ivould ice could not persuade more than six of the
dozen to pose for their pictures.

language, I would give considerable to know just the sounds
that mean "keep still." We finally got the pictures we
wanted, but we earned them, and surely the little fellows
earned the freedom that we allowed them as soon as we had
made two exposures.

15

I have found and photographed several other families
of Chickadees^ one nest of which contained twelve eggs.
I think this is about a record number and certainly it is
more than these birds should have had, for the birch stump
was so small that the eggs were arranged in tiers. They
did, however, succeed in raising the entire family success-
fully. When the little fellows were most ready to leave
home, they filled the stump from the bottom of the cavity to

Fig. 8. Father Chickadee often made the mistake of alighting
at the wrong side. It is the two little birdies at the left that are
to be fed this time.

the top. Those at the bottom were continually pushing
their way up in order to get fed in their turn, — a perfect cir-
culation of young Chickadees.

One summer, Mr. E. H. Forbush, well known in orni-
thological circles, wrote me that if I would appear with my

Fig. 9. MR. FORBUSH WATCHING HIS CHICKADEE.

Thi^ bird reveatedly lit on the side, and top of the nesting box,
w^Xlkd^mie ones while Mr. Forbush icas watching
them through the glass front.

17

■|.F.= :,'-|

Fig. 10. A close view of the male bird about to enter the nest-
ing box.

camera he could promise me a bird treat. The next day I
arrived at his house and was shown the home of a pair of
Chickadees in a bird box attached to the sill of a second
story shed window. It probably was the first successful at-
tempt to induce these little birds to utilize a box attached to
a dwelling.

18

Fig. 11. They appreciate the winter lunch counter provided
by bird lovers.

Fig. 12. They are quite fearless in winter and occasionally
feed from the hand.

19

The back of the box facing the window, was removable,
so that all that transpired, as the parents fed the five little
birds, could be plainly watched at a distance of but two
feet. The value of a family of these birds on the premises
is easily seen from the fact that all shrubs and plants about
the house were kept entirely free from plant lice during
the season.

Fig. 13. Cavities in orchard trees make fine nesting places.

You will notice, by one of the accompanying pictures,
that the Chickadees were not in the least afraid, but came
and went even though they were being watched at close
range. The little ones left the nest shortly after this pic-
ture was taken, flying first to Mr. Forbush's shoulder, then
to his hat and thence out into the wide, wide world.

Chickadees can easily be induced to remain about farm
houses in summer if they are occasionally fed during the
winter, when food is scarce or difficult to obtain. Even if
the orchard contains no trees with decayed limbs, in which
they can nest, they will remain if you wire short sections
of decayed birches to some of the trees.

20

Fig. 14. A piece of suet is just the thing for Chickadees on
cold wintry days.

Fi^. 15. A ivhite-breasted Nuthatch and the bountiful repast
of nuls and suet provided for him by a human friend.

21

Fig. 16. Does a Nuthatch like nuts? Note the inverted posi-
tion. These birds love to be head doumward.

White-breasted Nuthatch

Here is an acrobat worthy of notice. Apparently in de-
fiance of all laws of gravity, he nimbly runs down tree
trunks head-foremost, with never a falter. To him, the un-
der side of a limb is just as secure a resting place as the
top. A very close watch of his movements will show how
he is able to get into such unbalanced positions; one foot
is carried well forward under his breast but the other is
reached back and grasps the bark behind so he can progress
downward in a series of quick hitches.

22

23

Most of the nuthatch nests I have found have been lo-
cated in holes in large chestnut trees^ from twenty to fifty
feet from the ground and of course^, entirely unsuited for
photographic purposes. Finally a pair was located breed-
ing in a decayed limb of an apple tree very near a farm
house and only about six feet from the ground. At the bot-
tom of the cavity, on a soft bed of grasses and feathers,
lay five, delicate eggs covered with reddish brown specks.

The male was very attentive to his mate while she was
sitting upon her eggs and often carried tempting grubs to
her. Again he would slide down the limb just above her

Fig. 18. IN AN OLD APPLE TREE.

24

Fi^. 19. CLEANING THE NEST.
Sole the male bird in the rear.

Fig. 20. FATHER NUTHATCH ARRIVES.

25

Fig. 21. The male Nuthatch was a handsome bird with a
glossy black crown.

and utter a soft "y^"^? yank" until she gave an answering
"yank" from within. He did not spend much of his time
in the apple tree, for to have done so would have advertised
his home too conspiciously, but he was always within sight,
in the woods across the road. He could often be heard dili-
gently hammering to get grubs that were concealed beneath
the bark.

2(j

Fig. 22.

Fig. 23. The little birds and their parents assumed all man-
ner of poses.

27

I often watched him, standing on the shaggy bark of a
chestnut tree, pounding away with might and main, some-
times putting his bill under an edge of the bark and prying
until it seemed as though he might snap his bill in the mid-
dle. When hammering they always take their position
above their work, just as the human wood-chopper likes to
do.

Fig. 24. Caterpillars were eaten with a relish.

The male nuthatch, known by his glossy black crown,
never took a turn at sitting upon the eggs leaving such
duties exclusively to his gray-crowned wife. After the
eggs hatched he assumed the greater part of the burden of
feeding the little ones, coming with food at least twice as
often as did his mate. I suspect this was because he was
more skillful at uncovering larvae and grubs, and not be-
cause of any desire on his part to work more than necessary.

28

Fig. 25.

Fig. 26. The inconvenience of being in the way when brother^s
turn comes.

29

Fig. 27. His children were clamoring to be ted, so loudly
that, in his excitement, father stood on one of them.

Besides grubs and larvae^ the little ones were fed upon
many kinds of millers and sometimes upon cracked corn
that was picked up in the hen yard. Two weeks after the
eggs hatched^ the young were nearly large enough to leave
the nest. They looked almost like their parents, the males
having glossy black crowns, and the females gray ones.
The five youngsters were arranged side by side on a small
limb and many views taken of the parents as they fed them.
Both parents never came to the branch at the same time,
though one would often stay in the apple tree and watch
while the other one was pushing food into thfe cavernous
mouths. The little birds were very tractable, not behaving
at all like the little chickadees. In fact they did not fly
from the branch at all, but they were inclined to clamber
along it so as to reach the trunk of the tree.

30

The name Nuthatch was given to birds of this family
because of their supposed habit of hammering or "hatching"
at nuts to get at the meat within, but as far as I know, none
of the four species found in the United States ever open
nuts of any kind. They are, however, very fond of the
kernels and are often fed upon them as well as suet during
winter months, bv kind-hearted folks. Nuthatches, Chicka-

Fig. 28. BROTHER AND SISTER.

Note the gray croicn on the female and the jet black one of the
male.

dees. Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers are usually resident
wherever they are found so that, besides the pleasure
gained by watching them eat from the table provided for
them, they may remain and nest the next summer in the
vicinity. Any community that is so fortunate as to be the
dwelling place of a number of these birds is to be envied,
for they do inestimable good by destroying many insects
that ravage shade trees, fruit trees and plants.

31

AIR SCOUTS.

Certain long-winged birds spend a large proportion of
their existence a-wing, dashing across the fields, swooping
across ponds, skimming over housetops, even sweeping the
clouds. These birds may very fittingly be termed "air-
scouts," — always on the lookout for insect enemies. They
are constantly on duty scouring the skies, performing
for mankind, in times of peace, services incomparably great-
er than those expected of our aeroplane scouts in time of
war.

Chimney Swift

One of the most useful of these scouts is a "city dweller."

Chimney Swifts at one time nested only in hollow trees
and in caves or crevices in cliffs. To-day for some unac-
countable reason they nest almost exclusively within the
depths of unused chimneys. We can readily understand
why they like to live in cities for there the little gnats and
flies they like so well are the most abundant, but it is not
so plain why any species of bird should desert the compara-
tively clean cavities of decayed trees for the dirty, sooty
interiors of brick chimneys. It seems like a retrogressive
rather than a progressive development.

Swifts return to the northern states about the middle of
April each year, but they delay their nest building until
early May when the weather is more settled. It is quite
necessary that the air be dry when they make their homes
for they are held together entirely by glue which does not
harden rapidly in damp weather. This glue is made by
the swifts from their saliva ; it is very hard and almost
waterproof when dry.

Their nest building is very interesting to watch but it is
a slow operation often keeping the two birds busy for a week
more. It is made of twigs varying in length from half an
inch to a couple inches. They must of necessity be dead
twigs for the birds break them from the tips of branches,

32

Fig. 2y. CHIMNEY SWIFT.
Note how the tail spines assist them in clinging to the upright

surface.

33

while hovering in the air; I have on numerous occasions
seen them secure nesting material in this way but never,
except twice, did I see them alight on the ground to pick
up pieces.

The inside of the chimney, at the point selected, is
smeared with glutinous saliva and the little twig covered
with the same; each tiny stick is added in this manner un-
til the nest projects from the wall for two or three inches
and the interior is an inch deep. It makes a very strong little
home when properly made. Often, however, they fail to
make the front wall sufficiently high so that some of the
eggs roll or are pushed out by the sitting bird.

The eggs, white and from three to five in number, require
incubating for nearly three weeks before they hatch. The
young birds remain in the chimney for nearly a month longer
before they are able to venture out on their wings. So the
nesting of swifts is a slow process requiring about two
months, while the ordinary insectivorous bird will get its
little ones out of the nest sometimes within a month from
the time the foundation was first commenced.

Long before the little swifts are able to fly they get
exercise by climbing about the inside of their chimney-
home. A pair of swifts always built their nest directly op-
posite the stove-pipe opening in the chimney of an old
country house. I have often removed the cap to look at the
eggs or, later, to see the four little swifts clinging to the
chimney directly under the nest. They are nimble little
things and seldom lose their hold. Sometimes they do,
and fall to the bottom of the chimney but, by the aid of the
wings, their sharp little claws and their spiney tails, they
can climb to the nest again. If you have examined Chim-
ney Swifts closely, you probably have noticed that the
shafts of the tail feathers project beyond the webs making
sharp little spines that are of great assistance to the birds
in their manner of living. x

As it is obviously impossible for a bird to fly upwards in

3

34

a vertical line and the narrow confines of a chimney would
seem to make such flight a necessity^ I often used to wonder
just how the adult birds left the home. Of course a boy's
curiosity has to be satisfied so one day I removed the board
from the front of the old-fashioned fireplace, concealed

Fig. 30. NEST OF CHIMNEY SWIFT.
Taken by reflected light from a mirror.

myself within and watched until my quest for knowledge
was satisfied. Their movements were so rapid and the
loosened soot would persist in getting in my eyes so much
that my research was no easy one.

S5

Fig. 31. CHIMNEY SWIFT ON NEST.

A little blurred because the bird jumped ivhen the light was
flashed on her.

The chimney was about eighteen inches in width. Start-
ing from the nest^ the bird would leap upward^ and two
strong flaps of the narrow wings would carry him to the
opposite wall a little more than a foot above where he start-
ed; he just barely touched the side, whirled and two more
beats raised him another foot. He only had about fifteen
feet to rise before reaching the top and it only took about
ten of the rapid side-to-side flights to accomplish it.

The return to the nest was more difl5cult to watch as the
birds came dashing down with the speed of a bullet, ap-
parently not touching the sides at all. Almost before I
could see them coming they would have turned and be
clinging beside the nest.

36

The rapid twittering of Chimney Swifts is often heard
as they wheel about overhead, and the sound is greatly aug-
mented when a little swift is about to make his maiden
flight into the unknown. All the adults and young in the
vicinity gather to celebrate the event and to encourage the
little fellow in his attempt. The young swifts get their
wings strongly developed before leaving the chimney by
flights from side to side, so that they have little to fear as
they emerge into the open and follow the others over the
house tops.

Swifts are used by many as weather prophets and their
prognostications seem to come true far more often than
those of our government experts. When swifts fly high,
fair weather is presumed to follow; when they fly low, look
out for rain. Whether they fly high or fly low, however,
you may be quite certain that it is not the state of the
weather that influences them but means that the food they
seek is most abundant at that level. The weather may or
may not influence the altitudes at which the winged insects
happen to be.

NiGHTHAWKS AND WhIP-POOR-WILLS

These two birds, often confused with one another by
many, are similar in -form but distinctive in plumage and
very difl'erent in habits. I will first note some of the dis-
tinctions.

Nighthawk has a white throat, white bar across the outer
wing feathers, white bar across the middle of the outer tail
feathers and the tail a trifle forked (female has the throat
and tail bars rather bufFy-colored). Whip-poor-will has a
black throat, no white on wings, rounded tail and white
tips to the outer feathers. These diff'erences in plumage
are positive and should distinguish the two whether seen
flying or perching. But there are other differences.

'^^^'^I^^^*^

J"*%^_

Fig. 32. NIGHTHAWK.
Sitting upon her eggs on the gravel roof of a city block.

38

Nighthawks fly most at dusk or on cloudy days/ frequent-
ing open localities or cities; thousands see them every day
during the season they are with us. Whip-poor-wills are
night birds, frequenting woods and are seen by but compar-
atively few persons. The call of the Nighthawk is a rasp-

Fig. 33. The male spend daytime sitting lengthwise along
limbs and is quite difficult to see.

ing, nasal "peenk/' given while flying; that of the Whip-
poor-will is a loudly and rapidly whistled "whip-poor-will"
often repeated twenty or more times in succession; this
song is uttered while perched in the tops of trees.

The differences between the two birds are so great that
there is really little reason for confusion, whenever or
wherever they are seen or heard. . .

Nighthawks are past masters in the art of aviation. There
are no feats of skill performed by other birds that cannot
be equalled by these. During June and July they can

39

Fig. 34. NEST AND EGGS OF NIGHTHAWK.
The eggs are laid on the hare surface of a flat stone.

40

usually be seen and heard in great numbers about any large
city as they circle high in the air or sweep in graceful
curves over the tops of the buildings. In the country they
frequent the edges of woods or burned areas where flying
insects are the most easily secured. They are very sociable
birds and often hunt in large flocks. I have watched fully
a hundred of them at a time as they swept back and forth
across a large field^ curving, skimming and cavorting about
in a perfect maze; with never a falter they crossed and re-
crossed paths, each seeming to read the other's mind per-
fectly so that imminent collisions were always averted.

Nighthawk bills are very small but the mouth opens to
a point below the eyes so that the gape is enormous. Their
food is entirely caught while on the wing, — either by snap-
ping up individual moths or beetles or by dashing through
swarms of gnats, with wide-open mouths gathering them in
by the hundreds.

During the mating season the males often perform won-
derful evolutions in the air. Sometimes they make perpen-
dicular descents from high altitudes shooting downwards
with folded wings at bullet-like speed and turning upward
so suddenly that the air rushing through their wings pro-
duces a hollow "booming." On a warm, still evening during
early June and the latter part of May, these "boomings"
may very frequently be heard.

Although so exceedingly expert in aerial evolutions,
Nighthawks are very awkward when on the ground. Their
small, weak feet give them a very wobbly gait so that they
often require the services of their wings to keep their bal-
ance. When roosting on the limbs of trees and fence rails
they almost invariably sit lengthwise, their mottled plumage
and motionless attitudes rendering them very inconspicious.

They build no nest at all, — just lay their two mottled
eggs on the bare ground, usually choosing a small sandy
spot in a pasture or in very open woods; frequently they
are laid in hollows on rocks or even (very commonly) on

41

zmfw- >■

Fig. 35. NIGHTHAWK ON ITS NEST.

Note that it is not at all conspicuous, Sometimes they can be-
touched before they will fly.

42

flat gravel roofs of city blocks. The eggs resemble the peb-
bles so closely that it is difficult to see them. A friend
knowing that I am always ready to go almost anywhere to
secure a good bird picture, came and informed me that a
Nighthawk was sleeping on his roof every day; that it sat
behind a certain chimney and would allow him to approach
within a few feet before flying. I thought it strange that
he made no mention of seeing the eggs, but I went along
and^ sure enough, the bird, a female Nighthawk, was just
where he said it would be. When we were about four feet
distant it sailed easily away over the- surrounding roofs.
My friend watched the bird until it disappeared and then
turned to me with a self-satisfied air saying: "I knew it
would be here; strange that it comes to the same building
to roost every day, isn't it?" He could hardly believe his
eyes when I showed him the two eggs the bird had been
covering. He had started this bird off at least half a dozen
times and had not noticed them.

If the bird is flushed from the eggs when incubation is
well advanced, she will attempt to lead the intruder away
by feigning lameness, — a very easy matter for a Nighthawk
as they progress very awkwardly on the ground anyway.
Young Nighthawks are first covered with fine down but,
unlike most birds that are so clothed, they move about in-
differently on their feet. One or the other of the parents
sits beside them during the day and they are not fed until
between dusk and daylight.

Whip-poor-will

Unless disturbed. Whip-poor-wills pass the whole day
dozing on horizontal limbs or upon fallen tree trunks. They
are even more averse to moving during daylight than Owls.
As soon, however, as the mantle of night has fallen over the
woods, they become very active, swooping close to the
ground to gather up luckless beetles or dashing upward to
capture passing moths. Their bills are small but their

45

mouths are perhaps even larger than those of Nighthawks.
They swallow^ with ease, the largest of the moths and
sphinges and relish equally well small gnats or winged ants.
Chuck-wills-widows, larger members of the same genus,
found commonly in ':he Southern States are even more vor-
acious and devour anything that happens to be a-wing at
night and that will go in their enormous mouths; frequently

Fig. 38. WHIP-POOR-WILL.

Notice how perfectly she blends into the surrounding leaves.
The living bird as seen by the eye shows no plainer than it does
here.

the remains of small birds are found in their stomachs, prob-
ably caught while flying from one perch to another.

Whip-poor-wills are very noisy on warm, clear, still
nights. One night I pitched my tent beside a juniper tree
on a point of land making out into a beautiful lake. This
particular tree happened to be the favorite lookout perch
of a Whip-poor-will, or else he was attarcted to it by the

46

white tent. At any rate one of them sat in the top of this
little juniper from nine o'clock until one. It seemed to me
that he "whipped-poor-will" constantly all this time. The
notes are not objectionable and are interesting to listen to
for a few minutes at a time, but four hours of continuous
performance was too much for me, especially as the per-
former was within twenty feet. I went out and gathered
a few stones; as the first one went by he evidently though
it some species of moth for he darted after it the same as

Fig. 39. TREE SWALLOW.
These sivallous nest in hollow trees or in bird boxes.

bats do if anything is thrown up in front of them, and
then returned to the tree top and "whip-poor-willed" again.
The next stone crashed through the tree below him and I
saw his shadowy form flit overhead across the lake where
his calls soon mingled with others of his kind and I was
left undisturbed by them for the balance of the night.

47

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o "^

Hi

^1

•fecq

48

The Whip-poor-will makes no nest but lays its two faint-
ly mottled eggs on dead leaves on the ground in woods,
usually where they will be partly concealed by overhanging
brush. During daylight they trust to their protective color-
ation entirely and it rarely fails them. You can readily
judge from the photographs shown how closely they har-
monize in color and markings with their surroundings. If
one knows the location of a nest and uses due caution in
approaching he can nearly always touch them before they
will leave.

The feathers of all birds of this genus are exceedingly
soft so that their flight is entirely noiseless. At night they
can thread their way in and out through the branches with
an ease and grace that is incredible. I believe their sight
too, at night, is even keener that that of any of the owls.

Swallows

Swallows are the most active, most persistant and most
graceful gleaners of the atmosphere. Of the six species
found in the eastern states, all except the Bank and the

fm

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Fig. 41. YOUNG BANK SWALLOWS.

49

Rough-winged Swallows have taken up their abodes in
buildings built by man. Even the Bank Swallow commonly
nests in holes in banks where men are constantly at work
digging; and the Rough-winged species often makes its
homes among the stones of bridge foundations. Barn Swal-
lows nest within our barns, Eave or Cliff Swallows make
their homes under the eaves, Tree Swallows live in little
bird houses nailed to the sides of buildings or holes in our
•orchard trees and Purple ^Martins live in colonies, often in
very large, elaborate, many-roomed houses topping poles
set on lawns. No other class of birds has become so almost-
domesticated as the swallows.

Swallows are always sociable; they sometimes nest in
very large colonies and always in as large numbers as the
locality will support or furnish sites for. Of course it is
more difficult for Tree Swallows to find a sufficient number
of suitable cavities for many to nest near together, but I
have found a half dozen pairs of these nesting in one
orchard.

The illustration in which part of the bank has been cut
away gives a perfect idea of the nesting of Bank Swallows.
The little tunnel goes horizontally in for about two feet
and is then enlarged to make room for the feather-lined,
grass nest. The four or five eggs are pure white without
markings.

50

Fig. 42. A FAVORITE BRIDGE.
For many years Phoebes have nested under this old bridge.
Note the bird on the branch at left.

51

BIRD MASONS.

Certain of our wild birds are quite expert at handling,
and use quantities of mud in the formation of the cradles
for their eggs and young. Three good examples of such
birds are given in this chapter. The Robin and the Wood
Thrush, the home lives of which are given in another chap-
ter, also use much mud for the foundations of their nests.

Phoebe

Early each spring, soon after the arrival, in New Eng-
land, of Bluebirds, Robins and Song Sparrows, friend
Phoebe puts in his appearance, — a welcome appearance be-
cause it means that very soon a vast, kaleidoscopic proces-
sion of birds will come trooping from the south.

Phoebe is very often known as the "Bridge-Bird," not
the kind of "bridge" with which so many people of this day
are familiar, but the good, old-fashioned bridge that spans
a stream or gully. Such a bridge, with large logs for
stringers and planks for a surface, crosses a little brook
along which I like to wander. Each year, for as long a
time as any living person can remember, Phoebes have
nested under this. Of course, new nests are built each sea-
son, but they have usually been in the same spot, — above a
slight projection on the side of one of the logs. The nest
is gradually built up of pellets of mud, held together with
grasses and mosses. Sometimes the outside is almost wholly
of green moss, giving a most beautiful effect. The inside
of the structure may be lined either with grass or feathers.
The four or five eggs are a clear, creamy white usually with
no markings, although sometimes very faint specks will
show on the large end.

Besides under bridges, Phoebes make their nests in
niches in cliffs, under sheds and barns, under overhanging
banks, among the stones of old cellar walls, in fact any-

Fig. 43. NEST OF PHOEBE.
This nest is under the bridge shown in Fig. 42.

53

.where so that the nest will be shaded and protected from
sight and the weather.

Because of the comparative darkness of the situations
they choose, in which to build their homes, it is quite difficult
to make satisfactory pictures of Phoebes feeding their
young. Not only that, but the birds are so active that it
is difficult to show the feeding process even though the
light were good. Usually, reflected sunlight from a large
mirror has to be used to secure illumination sufficient to
make an instantaneous exposure. A picture of a Phoebe
sitting upon its nest in a shed is shown, taken in this man-
ner; also a picture of the eggs in the nest, taken by having
another mirror inverted above the nest.

When a suburban trolley line crossed a certain brook,
they put in very heavy iron girders for the foundation. A
pair of Phoebes took a liking to this spot and built their
moss-covered house on the lower flange of one girder. Here
they laid their eggs and reared the family. Cars passed
every thirty minutes, or as regularly as street cars usually
go to such a schedule, on rails but two feet above the head
of the mother as she sat upon the nest. The bird must have
been entirely devoid of nerves for she never moved as the
cars rumbled overhead with a clatter and roar that sounded
fearful from underneath. I spent several hours under
there and I was very glad to leave at the end of that time.
A mirror situated on the bank below the bridge was used
to throw a spot of light on the nest. The camera was set
on a tripod in the water, w^hich was only about six inches
deep, while I had to crouch on a few small stones and try
to keep my balance. Some cloth, tacked to the planking
above and draping down to the water screened the camera
and myself from the birds. From time to time, I had to
push the mirror slightly so as to keep the little spot of sun-
light where it would cover the nest. It was a very easy mat-
ter to secure pictui es of the mother as she stood on the edge

54

Fig. 44. PHOEBE ON NEST.

This nest is on a beam in a shed. Sun was thrown on it by
a large mirror.

55

Pig. 45. NEST AND EGGS OF PHOEBE.

This is the same nest shown in Fig. 44. Two mirrors were
used— one to reflect sunlight and the other above the nest to
shoiv the eggs.

56

Fig. 46. PHOEBE AND HER FAMILY.

Taken just after feeding, by reflected sunlight. The actual
feeding was always done ichite the bird icas hovering and loas
too rapid to be photographed in 1-100 of a second.

of the nest looking at the extraordinary light that slione
from the bank, but I was not able to get a satisfactory pic-
ture of her actually feeding the little ones. In fact, most
of the time, she would hover over the nest and feed them
while a-wing, then drop to the edge and watch either the
lens or the light.

Fig. 47. This Phoebe nest was in an old cellar hole.

58

59

Fig. 49. NEST AND EGGS OF BARN SWALLOW.
Always lined with soft feathers.

The male bird did not come to the nest at all, while I was
there, but he encouraged his mate to do so for he would
stand outside, flirt his tail and utter many a harsh "phoe-be"
as she was going under the bridge ; he also often gave a
rather pretty trill as she came out, just as though he were
praising her for her bravery in going where he dared not.
Most of the food brought to the nest was small moths that
were caught flying over or about the edges of the brook.

Barn Swallow

Just as the Phoebe is the "Bridge-bird," so this is a bird
of the barn. Before the advent of civilized man, they
dwelt in caves or in hollow trees. So wholly have they now
adapted themselves to man's ways that I have never seen,
nor have I heard of an instance for many years, of one of
their nests except in a building constructed by human
hands.

60

Fig. 50.

NEST OF BARN SWALLOW

Taken by reflected sunlight,
nest to show the eggs.

and a second mirror above the

01

■

Fig. 51. A DOUBLE NEST.

Note, that these nests are placed on a mowing machine knife.
It is well to provide projections in suitable places for these birds
to build upon.

Barn Swallows make their nests or pellets of mud held to-
gether with bits of straw; bit by bit, these are attached to
the side of a beam until the half-bowl-shaped structure is
complete; the inside is always very warmly lined with soft
feathers from barnyard fowls. Sometimes these nests are
plastered to beams that are fairly smooth, and in such cases
are very apt to be loosened and fall. Usually a very rough
beam or a spot where there is a splinter or a nail projecting,

62

is chosen. One of our pictures shows a nest that is built
on the cutter of a mowing machine, this having been laid
across two nails. Many farmers, realizing the value of
these birds about their places, nail small bits of board to
the bottom of some of the beams, so as to give their little
friends a firm foundation for their homes.

Time after time, I have hidden in a hay mow just to
watch these exceedingly graceful creatures as they skimmed
in through the barn door, swept upward and landed, light
as feathers, on the edge of their nests. Always, as they
glided through the door, I would hear their musical twitter;

Fig. 52. YOUNG BARX SWALLOWS.

All from one nest but probably belonging to two pairs or
swallows.

the little birds, waiting in the nest were listening intently
for that same twitter and were always all standing up with
wings fluttering and mouths wide open ready to greet their
parent when he or she arrived. Each parent usually
brought enough every trip to go the rounds of the hungry
mouths. The food was composed almost wholly of gnats
and other tiny insects that can be caught in great quantities

63

as the swallows go swooping across the fields or over ponds.
How I longed to be able to reproduce, with the camera,
the beautiful scenes that I have witnessed many times at
Barn Swallow nests, but, unfortunately, they have always
been in locations where the light did not allow of instanta-
neous pictures and always where I have been unable to use
a mirror to reflect light. Their movements, as they thrust
food in turn down the waiting throats are so very rapid
that no exposure longer than one one hundredth of a
second would secure any result except a blur.

Cliff Swallow

While the Barn Swallows usually have their homes within
barns, Cliff Swallows almost as frequently fasten theirs to
the outsides of such structures, on which account they are
very generally known as "Eave Swallows." These Swal-
lows are more gregarious than Barn Swallows ; even in the
East, where they build under the eaves of buildings, they
nest in colonies varying from two or three nests to some-
times as many as fifty on one building. In the West where
they have not so fully learned the ways of civilization, they
nest in colonies of thousands, attaching their homes to the
faces of cliffs.

Their nests are constructed in the same manner as those
of Barn Swallows but are of a much different shape. The
typical Cliff Swallow nest is flask-shaped; it is attached to
the building or cliff by one side of the rounded bottom,
which is slightly flattened, and the entrance is through an
opening in the short neck that protrudes from the upper
side; again the nest may have no neck but simply a round
hole in the upper part of the mud dome. The outside has
a very granular appearance caused by the large pellets of
mud that are plastered on it. The inside is, of course, lined
with feathers or grasses.

Many persons confuse this bird and the latter one, but
they are very different and easily recognized. This species
has no swallow or forked tail and has a light patch on the

64

rump and one on the forehead^ both of which are very • . -.[v
seen even during flight.

Although I have seen and know of a great many of their
nesting sights my photographic experiences with these birds
are limited to one attempt. The nests were under the eaves
of a large barn, fully thirty feet above ground; time and
conditions forced me to hold the graflex camera out of a
tiny window and make exposures in a most awkward atti-
tude. The eggs of this species are precisely like those of
the Barn Swallow. — creamy white, profusely spotted Mith
reddish-brown. The nests are most commonly located on
buildings near water; I have found them very commonly
plastered to the sides of ice houses.

Fig. 53. LEAST FLYCATCHER.
Brooding her little ones.

65

EXPERT FLYCATCHERS.
Chebec or Least FlycxYtcher

The pair of Least Flycatchers, with which this chapter
deals, built their nest, as may be very plainly seen in the
photographs, in an apple tree. This tree was located within
twenty feet of the house of a friend of mine and also of
the birds.

We saw the very foundation built, in fact we noticed
them carrying almost the first materials that entered into

Fig. 54. Thi
apples.

nest uas daintly set among a cluster of green

it. The building of the home occupied the two of them for
three days. They did not work very steadily for there
were a great many flies and moths to be caught. The male
had a favorite lookout perch at the very apex of a pear tree;
he would often sit there for an hour at a time singing his

66

simple and homely song. — just a sharp, snappy "che-bec/*
accompanying each syllable with a quick jerk of his head.
It was a finely made nest, very firmly quilted together,
of gray plant fibres, string, horsehair and fine grass, bound
very tightly to its supporting twigs. A week after the nest
was completed, it contained three, creamy-colored eggs;
she laid no more but immediately commenced sitting, hour

Fig. 55. Many millers, as well as other insects, were fed to
the young Chehecs.

after hour and day after day. Sometimes she did , not even
leave at dinner time for her mate was very thoughtful and
often brought her moths and various kinds of flies. At
other times he would start from his lookout perch and fly
over her, with that fluttering flight that flycatchers so often
affect, just to assure himself that everything went well in
his home; at such times he usuallv uttered the beautiful lit-

67

tie trill that these flycatchers often make when they are
pleased with themselves or their surroundings. *

In due course of time the eggs hatched. When the young
were ten days old we made our first photographs. The nest

Fig. 56. The food was quickly thruM far doicn the throat of
the hungry bird-baby.

was about ten feet from the ground, but ^ye pulled the limb
down and tied it so that their home was only eight feet up.
We then backed a large covered wagon up close to the nest
and from within made quite a series of pictures. The little
mother was brooding the young as we backed the wagon up
and. although so large an object coming so close must have
frightened her, she stayed "aboard" the nest until we
climbed into the wvagon and began setting up the cameras
within three feet of her.

We soon had everything concealed, except the lenses, by
large blankets, and the little mother bird paid no more at-

68

tention to us. The nest was in an exposed position^ where
tlie sun shone brightly on it during the forenoon^ so she
hrooded the little birds a great deal. She would stand over
them with wings slightly spread, warding ofF the fierce
rays of the sun from her offspring; such was her devotion.
About every five minutes her mate would bring some kind

Fig. 57. When ice placed the little birds on a branch, mother
Chebec at once fed. them and then looked long at the glass "e^/f"
staring at her.

of a winged insect for the little ones, and she would instant-
ly dart down into the coolness of the foliage below, only to
return in a few minutes to take up her task.

This pair of birds and the three young remained about
the orchard until the end of summer; the next year a pair,
and I think it was the same, had a nest within a few feet
of where the other was, but this time it was placed where
the sun did not shine on it at all; had she remembered the
suffering of the previous year?

69

Fig. 58. Father Chebec was in such a hurry that he trod all
over one of the little birds while feeding the other.

A Family of Redstarts

The morning of one June day found me threading my
way along a narrow footpath that wound its way in and out
through one of the most delightful pieces of woodland that
ever echoed a bird song. As I walked slowly along, I was
separating, by their voices, the many varieties of birds
whose babble filled the woodland with melody.

A gleam of orange and black among the foliage, pro-
claims the presence of a Redstart, that alert member of the
warbler family whose habits are so like those of some of the
flycatchers. He was in the act of tearing fragments from
a caterpillar nest ; this material he carried across the path
to a small maple about twenty feet frorn me and wound it
about the framework of a nest that he and his mate had
just commenced. While he was so engaged, his partner
appeared with a load of plant fibres which she carefully
and skilfully weaved into the growing home.

70

Fig. 59. MALE REDSTART AND FAMILY

He was perfectly fearless and came as regularly as though we
icere not present.

71

Seating myself under the shade of a bush not more than
ten feet away I rnjoyed a two hour lesson in the art of
nest-building. The male was an unusually bright-colored
bird; he was very proud and conceited too. His mate was
also very beautiful, even though less gaily clad than he.
Undoubtedly she knew more about correct house building
than Mr. Redstart, but he did not think so, and whenever
she objected to his manner of doing the work, he promptly
drove her away with playful snappings of his bill. In the
end, she had her way as is usual in such differences, for
when he went off for more material she would do his work
over to suit herself.

They were exceedingly active in all their movements,
their actions as they chased one another about being bewil-
dering. Naturally, with so much play, the nest grew but
slowly, and it was over a week from the time the founda-
tion was laid before the trim little structure was completed.
A week later, four possibilities of future Redstarts occupied
the nest. As there were many squirrels about and the woods
were often frequented by boys, I concluded it well to at
least get one photographic record of the nest in case any-
thing should happen to it. It was located only about four
feet above ground and I had not the least difficulty in get-
ting a good likeness of the female as she descended to the

The male bird, at this time, was literally "out of a job,"
for I never saw him assist her in the duties of incubation
and only once while I was present did he bring her anything
to eat. He spent his time in the tops of the trees, singing,
dashing after insects and driving away birds that came too
near him. With the advent of the young, came an end to
his period of loafing and he did his duty manfully and with
much enthusiasm.

The actions of the two birds, in the presence of the cam-
era, were quite different. The male showed a disdain foi*

72

Fig. 60. FEMALE REDSTART.

it that was amusing. I had arrived during his absence and
had my head under the cloth focussing on the nest when I
felt a little rush of air, a streak of orange flashed across
the ground glass screen and the male was bending over his
children. How I longed to reproduce the picture that
showed on the screen as he fed each of his little ones in
turn, his wings quivering in his enthusiasm and his tail
opening and closing like a fan. The pictures were not

Fig. 61. BROODING THE LITTLE ONES.

made from the tent, I being concealed in a bush about ten
feet away and making exposures by means of a long tube
to release the shutter. Several times he lit upon the camera
and once he swung upon the long rubber tube for several
seconds. I made quite a number of pictures of him but
many were failures because of the rapidity of his move-
ments. His mate was much more cautious in her manner
of approach, in fact she seemed to fear the camera more
than she had when I made her picture before, but after she
became acquainted with me she was very tame. The quar-
tet of youngsters were very bright. When they were a week
old, their curiosity was fully developed. They had just the
faintest suspicion of feathers on them, their almost bald
heads looking very comical as they hung them over
the edge of the nest and watched their parents foraging.

74

They were naughty too. at times^ as is shown by the picture
of the mother trying to brood them. She turned and
twisted and poked at them in her endeavors to keep them
under her^ but they would insist on sticking their heads out
to see what was going on. The one on the right really looks
as though he were laughing at her vain attempts to control
him.

The nest, which was plenty large enough for the eggs
and for the little birds in their first stages, is shown by the
pictures of the male feeding them, to be entirely too small
to accomodate them as they get larger. We cannot but pity
the poor little fellow that is vainly trying to push his way
up, but we may rest assured that when it comes his turn to
be fed, he will not be forgotten. At no time, while I was
watching them, did they feed the little birds upon large
insects such as many of the smaller birds frequently do.
All food brought seemed to be small winged insects or little
caterpillars that they picked up from the ground.

Fig. 62. A ijair of Bluebirds on the top of their nesting post.

BLUE SKIES AND BLUE BIRDS.

The Bluebird

A sweet melodious warble, a flash of the brightest of
blue and there upon the decayed end of an apple bough,
sits one of our very best of friends, the Bluebird. As we
watch, he disappears within the opening, — surely fortune
smiles upon us, for the nest hole is barely above the head, —
an ideal place for using the camera.

True, the nest is on the north side of the tree and conse-
quently in rather a dark place, but we are prepared for such
emergencies and in a few minutes, the reflection from a

Fig. 63. BLUEBIRD AT ITS NEST-HOLE.

Fig. 64. A BLUEBIRD PORTRAIT.

Illuminated by reflected sunlight from a large mirror. This
nest was on the north side of the tree in shadow so that without
the mirror pictures could not have been secured.

77

large mirror makes the place as light as though it were in
the bright sunlight.

We soon have the camera in readiness and retire to a
place of concealment behind the next tree^ holding a long
black linen thread the other end of which is attached to a
little device to spring the shutter. As the male bird flits to
and fro in the sunlight, his blue coat is dazzling in its bril-

Fig. 65. YOUNG BLUEBIRDS.

liancy. His sombre colored but equally melodious mate is
very anxious to examine her household but evidently is
afraid the square box in front of her door is some sort of a
trap. She makes a great many false starts but each succes-
sive move brings her a little nearer to the goal until at last
she gathers all her courage and alights on the nesting hole.

78

H^^H

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''.■ '^'^^i^^^^^aP^^-Sri^M

LiitSI

L ft. %»;-'» .

Fig. 66. IX THE DOORWAY

Fig. 67. MOTHER BLUEBIRD AND HER YOUNG

Fig. 68. Bluebirds like birdboxes if the English sparrows are
kept away.

Instantly a dazed expression comes over her. Something
is wrong. She looks long and steadily at the dazzling re-
flection coming from down in the grass^ then peeks around
the limb at the sun that is still doing duty in its proper
place. The problem proved too great for her or else she
lacked the time to study over it longer, for she dived down
to her nest to see how her little ones were faring.

A certain twig on a dead limb of the next tree^ was a

80

bM

■m».

Fig. 69. AN UNUSUAL SIGHT.

These Bluebirds nested in one arm of this scare-crow.

favorite perch for her. It allowed her a clear view of the
ground for thirty feet about; often she would drop into the
grass and capture grasshoppers or caterpillars and bear
them off to the nest. The male bird, because of fear, abso-
lutely refused to have his portrait made. He often brought
morsels of food and gave them to his mate to carry to the

81

little ones, — rather imgallant of Mr. Bluebird to thus expose
"his mate to fancied dangers he dare not face.

Another pair of Bluebirds has nested annually, for
years, in the top of a certain fence post. This same nest
has, on several occasions, furnished a little joke at the ex-
pense of some of my friends. As we approached the field
in which this post was located, I would casually remarii
that I had a little Bluebird-friend that would allow me to

Fig. 70. The sleeve of scare-crow opened so as to show the
nest and

"put my arm about her without any attempt to get away.
Naturally such a statement would be viewed with some
doubt and I would be called upon for proof. The proof
was easy, for I had but to step up to the post and put my
arm about it, the bird at the time being sitting closely upon
the eggs within. Usually two broods a year were reared in
this secure home.

82

Little bluebirds have blue backs and brownish breasts,
like their parents but^ like all members of the thrush fam-
ih' to which Bluebirds belong, they have spotted breasts
and more or less spotting on their backs. This plumage is
lost at the first moult and thej- become just like their par-
ents.

Bluebirds do not alwavs nest in hollow trees or fences:

Fig. 71. BLUEBIRD.

many a boy or girl has a little bird box built expressly for
their use, and they are very glad to use them if English
sparrows can be kept from pestering them. They also
sometimes build in very odd places as can be seen by the
photographs of the nest in the sleeve of a scarecrow.

Blue Jay

Blue Jays always seem like old friends to me. I have
seen a great many of them under all conditions of life. I

BLUEBIRD

From a paint I'lig

CHIPPING SPARROW

From J pointing

83

Fig. 72. NEST AND EGGS OF BLUE JAY.
The Blue Jay usually nests in pine trees.

h^ve watched them through field glasses; I have looked at
them over the sights of a gun; I have watched them on the
ground glass of a camera ; and I have kept them and
watched them in captivity.

One morning, about the middle of May, two men might
have been seen going along a certain pine-covered hillside.
Their actions were peculiar for they stopped and looked
sharply into each tree as they passed. It was very promis-
ing ground for Blue Jay nests and, to tell the truth, that
is just what these men were looking for.

A bird slipped quietly out of the far side of one of the
pines, but the sharp eyes of my companion caught sight of

84

7

85

the flash of blue and he exclaimed^ "Here it is !" About
six feet from the ground was quite a large nest built of
black twigs and rootlets^ and in it were five, greenish-gray
eggs covered with darker spots. Not a sound came from
the bird that had so silently disappeared. Jays are not
birds to needlessly advertise their homes when there is the
jjossibility that they may escape notice.

Two days later the eggs had hatched and by Memorial
Day the little Jays were ready to leave their nest. After

Fig. 74. DINNER TIME.

having posed for their pictures they were released, except
one that went home with us where he stayed for the three
following years. A few of this bird's deeds and misdeeds

86

Fig. 75. Young Jays in yest.

87

may serve to interest and give an insight into the true nature
of all jays.

Who first gave this bird a name and why it was given^ no-
body knows, but almost from the first day it was known as
Kitty. Part of a room was screened off, including a large
window, for the exclusive use of Kitty, and several small
trees and a little pine were introduced so as to allow for
exercise. The first two weeks, Kitty had to be fed very
often; when anyone was in the room, she would hop about
after them with wide-open mouth and fluttering wings, al-
ways begging for more. Bread and milk, eggs and bits of

Fig. 76. The Jays become too large for their home and are
crowded out on the neighboring branches.

raw meat seemed perfectly satisfactory to her if they came
in large enough doses and at frequent intervals. It was
about three weeks before Kitty could fly strongly and then
her mischievousness began to assert itself at every oppor-
tunity.

Kitty seldom made typical jay calls or whistles but she

88

had a very great many notes of her own and would some-
tmies whistle and warble continuously for an hour at a time^
at times striking combinations of notes that sounded very
pretty. Wild jays^ especially in Springs often talk among
themselves with low whistles, with an effect very similar to
Kitty's song. She never used the loud, harsh, jay scream
unless angered or greatly excited; if a dog came into the
room, she was a typical, wild jay and would raise her crest
and scream at the top of her voice. She had two whistles

Fig. 77, The day after leaving home.

that were used to denote gratification, usually when she had
played a joke on some one; always, when giving these she
would bob up and down on her legs in the most ludicrous
manner.

TNlany a ball player might have taken lessons, to advan-
tage, from Kitty ; she never missed catching in her beak,
peanuts, kernels of corn or pennies, as thc}^ were tossed to
her. She was a regular miser and pennies were hid in
crevices all over her room; she also stored up, the same as
wild jays do, quantities of food so as to be provided for a
rainv day.

89

If I happened to be talking to anyone in the room, she
would bide her time until we were not watching her, then
swoop down between us so that a wing would sweep across
our faces; if we were startled and dodged, as usually hap-

Fig. 78. Three days before they left the nest, of their own
accord

pened, she would dance up and down and whistle in her
ecstacy. She was fond of bright colored objects, especially
if they were on ladies' hats. One day a lady went into the
room wearing imitation cherries on her hat. Kitty was quite
fond of cherries but had never had them served that way be-
fore. She did not, however, complain about the service but
landed right in the middle of the bunch and commenced to
hammer away with all her might. Fortunately for me, 1
got her away before any damage was done.

One day a live Barred Owl was brought to me and was
placed in the room outside of Kitty's portion. Kitty's
greatest delight was to escape from her apartment when we
opened the door to feed her. By a sudden dash, she got
her freedom on the day the owl was brought in. She had

90

never seen an owl before but was perfectly willing to take
a chance on hectoring him. Every time she flew across the
room she would whistle with glee as he opened his eyes and
blinked at her. The owl made no attempt to dissuade her
from her play but I imagine he was saying to himself: "You
just wait until nighty you little blue imp, and I'll wring
your neck." Of course as Kitty was safely fastened in her
own apartment before dark, the owl had no opportunity to
get his revenge.

It is a pity that such beautiful and interesting birds as
Blue Jays should be so destructive. They do a great deal
of useful work in destroying caterpillars but the harm they
work in destroying eggs and j^oung of other useful birds
much more than balances the good that they do. Still I
think that no one would advocate the extermination of jays;
certainly not until that greatest of all pests, the English
Sparrow is gotten rid of.

Fig. 79. NEST OP RUBY-THR. HUMMINGBIRD.

91

MOSS-COVERED HOMES.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Hummingbirds are creatures of the New World. About
five hundred species are found in North and South America.
They range from Alaska to Patagonia, being most numerous
in northern South America and in Central America. Only
sixteen species out of this great number are known to have
occurred in the United States and but a single species, the
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, is found east of the Missis-
sippi River.

I have always been greatly interested in these "gems."
In fact, when I was but eight years of age, my interest in
them led me to capture one in a butterfly net as it flew about
the flowers in the garden. I thought I had a most wonder-
ful prize, but I am glad to say that my parents quickly in-
duced me to release it. As usual with all ornithologists at
that time, my early investigations were made chiefly from
a covetous standpoint. Much was learned, but knowledge
so gained does not compare in value with that obtained when
the possessive instinct is ignored.

There is a very prevalent idea that Hummingbirds subsist
entirely upon the honey or nectar of flowers; such a diet
would soon ruin the digestive organs of any kind of bird or
beast. As a matter of fact, nectar forms a very small per-
centage of hummingbird food. Instead of sipping the
honey from the flowers they visit, they usually are engaged
in the very useful occupation of eating the many tiny in-
sects that gather in such places. It is well known that most
flowers that secrete nectar are partially or wholly dependent
upon certain insects to carry pollen from one blossom to the
stigma of another and so eflfect cross-fertilization; these
useful insects are usually large, long-tongued ones like bees,
moths and butterflies. So in destroying the tiny insects,
hummingbirds perform a service to the plants by removing
pilfering insects that do no good, and to mankind also.

92

93

I have always believed that nests of this hummingbird
contain a greater amount of labor, are better made and are
very much more beautiful than nests of any other kinds of
birds. I have had many excellent opportunities to watch
them during their home-building.

One day I saw a "hummer" buzzing about under some
ferns, within a few inches of the ground ; she was gathering
the soft, downy wool that sheathes the young fronds and is
often left hanging to the stems of older ferns. When she
had a tiny load of this in her slender bill, she whizzed away
with it; fortunately I was able to keep track of her rapid
flight and saw her land on a limb about twenty feet above
ground. She had just commenced her work, barely enough
of the future nest showing to be seen with the field glasses.

She was quite industrious but she only gathered tiny
loads at a time and it took her quite a long while to find the
material, so that building was a very slow operation. At
the end of three days, the walls of the nest had just com-
menced to assume a recognizable form.

Sometimes she brought little masses of whiter, finer ma-
terial even than the "wool," probably cobwebs; this evident-
ly held the balance of the material more closely together.
I never saw her mate anywhere near the nest during its
construction, but he did appear and help defend the home
after the little "hummers" appeared.

The decorating of the outside of the nest was the most
interesting part of the work. She seemed to be exceedingly
particular about the appearance of each piece of lichen that
was glued in place. Often she would buzz up and down and
around the trunks of several trees before she could find a
piece to her liking.

When finished, she had a bit of bird architecture of which
she was justly proud. Greens predominated in the lichens
that grew on this tree, and all the pieces that were on her
nest were of the same shade. Without seeing her going to
it, nobody would have suspected that the little tuft of moss
was other than a natural growth on the limb.

94

It was just ten days from the time the structure was
commenced, when it was finished. In four days more, there
were two little white eggs, just the size and shape of small
pea-beans, laying in the soft little cup. In sixteen days

Fig. 81. You can imagine how crowded this nest
was before the first of the two young left.

more, there emerged from these eggs, two tiny, naked mites,
looked anything except like the little feathered jewels into
which they were to develop. The little birds remained in
the nest three weeks. At the end of the first week, tiny
little pin feathers had commenced to appear; in two weeks
they looked like little cushions stuck full of pins. From
this time until they left, their feathers blossomed out very
rapidly and they were transformed from the little helpless

95

mites into lusty little birds bigger than the nest could com-
fortably hold.

For two weeks they were fed entirely by regurgitation, —
on food pre-digested by the parents. This feeding process
is one of the most peculiar sights in bird-dom. The parent
stands on the edge of the nest, erect and neck stretched to
the utmost so as to get the slender bill into the mouth of the
little one. The head is worked vigorously and the food
"pumped in." It is a process that looks a great deal more
like a surgical operation than like a dinner party.

Hummingbirds, tiny as they are, have violent and easily
aroused tempers; no bird is more courageous nor as quick
to attack man, bird or beast that threatens its home. With
excited "chipperings," they will often dash right at your
face like little winged bullets, so that you invariably dodge.
They stop when a few inches away, but there is always the
uncertainty so that one does not dare keep still to see if
they would strike.

Hummers are quite cleanly in their habits. I never saw
them bathe in pools of water, but I have seen them
moistened as though with dew from the leaves, and then
seen them taking "dust baths" to dry themselves. It is
believed that our Hummingbird has a preference for bright
red colors and that they like particularly well to feast from
the depths of the cardinal flower, trumpet creeper and
other gaudy, long-tubed blossoms of that hue. However,
w^e find them ^ery commonly about many of the garden and
wild flowers of other colors and about apple, pear and
cherry trees when they are in bloom.

Anna Hummingbird.

One of the most common of the several hummingbirds
found in California is called the x\nna Hummingbird. It
is slightly larger than our eastern bird and the male has a
flery-pink throat and crest, — a beautiful little species.

As a rule I believe that this species is even more tame

96

\^

,Fig. 82. ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD.

than the Ruby-throat. I have known of many instances of
their flying to the flowers on ladies' hats, thinking that they
were real ones. They also show a partiality or preference
for a close acquaintance with mankind as they very often
build their nests in vines on trellises or piazzas of dwellings.
Their nests are made of woolly j^lant fibres held together,
especially on the outside with cobwxbs. The outside has
little or no moss or lichen ornamentation. These nests are
usually built at low elevations, most often under ten feet
above ground, while I have found nests of the Ruby-
throat at least sixty feet up.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

These charming little birds are very common in the
southern half of the United States. Their body is but little
bigger than that of a hummingbird, but a rather long tail
makes the total length of the bird a great deal more.

Their call notes can often be heard coming from the high
trees that they like to frequent. It is a sound that would

Fig. 83. NEST OF BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS.

escape the notice of many observers, — not loud and with an
insect-like quality that might cause it to be overlooked, — a
rather, twanging, high-pitched mew. Their song is a mixed
medley of faint noises, not worthy of the name of a song,
but it expresses their pleasure and. to them, it may be as

98

beautiful as the efforts of our most accomplished musicians.

Although their vocal efforts may not appeal to us, they
have two claims to notice that cannot be ignored, — their
graceful beauty and their nest-building ability. Slim,
graceful, with a soft blending of blue-gray, black and white,
they create an impression that, coupled with their agility,
matching that of the Chickadee, calls forth our admiration.

I have said that the nest of our hummingbird is one of
the most beautiful bird creations. The Blue-gray Gnat-
catcher nest is almost a perfect reproduction of the hummer-
nest but on a much larger scale. While the nest of the
hummingbird is small even in proportion to its maker, that
of the gnatcatcher is rather large for the size of the bird;
that is, the outside of the nest, the whole bulk of it, is large;
but the walls are very thick so that the little, very deeply-
cupped interior is hardly big enough to accomodate the lit-
tle bird and the four or five beautiful, white, brown-specked
eggs that she lays.

While you may see gnatcatchers feeding on the lower
limbs of trees or among the underbrush, they like high ele-
vations and it is usually high up in the trees, on horizontal
branches, that the exquisite moss-covered homes are placed.

Wood Pewee.

Belonging to an entirely different family, but still build-
ing the same type of moss-adorned nest, is the Wood Pewee.
These are among the commonest of the flycatchers ; they are
called pewees because of the song they sing so often during
the summer months, — a very clearly whistled "pee-ah-wee;
(short pause) peeeee-wee."

Nearly every small piece of woods has its pewees and
often we find them in orchards. Each bird has a favorite
perch or two, — dead twigs that give them a good view of
the surrounding territory. They perch on these for hours at
a time, occasionally dashing out after a luckless miller or
bee that happens to pass within sight of their keen eyes;

99

Fig. 84. NEST OF WOOD PEWEE.

100

ever and anon their plaintive "pee-ah-wee" rings out. often
with clock-like regularity.

It is, however, with Wood Pewee homes that we are at
present concerned. These are. as I have said, moss-covered,
but they are very inferior in construction to those either of
the Hummingbird or Gnatcatcher. The bulk of the nest
is made out of coarse plant fibres, not so perfectly quilted
together and very shallow as compared to the nests of the
other birds mentioned. The outside has less moss attached
and it is not done in as firm a manner.

Still these nests, saddling quite large limbs as they do,
are very difficult to see. If one has patience they are, how-
ever, very easy to find, especially if the nest happens to
contain a full set of the creamy white eggs with their sharp,
brown specks. You have but to watch either of the owners.
Should you chance to be observing the female, she will prob-
ably go to the nest within a few minutes; should it be the
male bird that you are watching, he will probably quite
quickly betray the hiding place of the nest, for he is very
attentive to his mate and often carries food to her as she
sits on the eggs.

All flj'catchers have a metallic little trill that they utter,
usually when they are very happy and sometimes under
stress of excitement; the female pewee gives it as she settles
on her nest and the male usually does as he goes to feed
her. I have found the greater number of their nests built
on horizontal limbs of oak trees, but I have sometimes, too,
found them in chestnuts, in maples along roadsides and in
apple trees. The majority have been located from twenty
to fifty feet above ground, but I have found one as low as
eight feet, this one being in an orchard.

103

FAVORITE SONGSTERS
Robin

Were a vote to be taken to discover the most popular
bird in America, fully three-quarters of them would prob-
ably be registered for the Robin. With the exception of
Song Sparrows, no other birds found about cities and habi-
tations, have as extensive a range. We may hear the same
Robin song in Massachusetts, in California, in Alaska, in
Labrador or in the Gulf States. To be sure, Robins are
separated into three sub-species but it is only the hair-
splitting .ornithologist who can tell the difference between
them and even he must know just where a Robin was taken
before he can tell which kind it is.

Robins are migratory birds, but they migrate only just
so far as is absolutely necessar}- in order to get food to
live upon. Many of them pass the winter even in the north-

Fig. 87. ROBIX OX NEST.
Many nests are built in such locations.

104^

Fig. 88. ROBIN NEST.

A typical nest, the inside construction of uhich is almost
wholly of mud.

105

ern states, where they can g-et shelter in large cedar swamps.
It is quite probable that it is the birds from the extreme
northern parts of their breeding range that winter in
northern United States, while the birds that breed here
migrate southwards to the Gulf States.

Fig. 89. JUST FED BUT STILL HUNGRY.

Adult Robins return to the same breeding grounds each
year and are believed to remain mated for life. It is prob-
able that the young birds become separated from their par-
ents and from each other and seek new fields on their re-
turn from the south.

The song of the Robin is alwaj^s pleasing, — a loud, roll-
ing "cheer-up, cheerily cheerily, etc." varied greatly in pitch
but usually fitting these words. An old rendition of the

106

Fig. 90. AX ATTRACTIVE LOCATION.

English Sparroivs pulled the bottom from this nest and the
^ggs fell to the ground.

107

Robin song, probably originating in the mind of some phy-
sician^ runs "Kill-him. cure-him; kill-him. cure-him; give
him physic; quick!" Robins have^ however, other notes not
so pleasing. Their voices are loud and their lungs lusty.
When they have a real or fancied grievance they can create
more excitement and make more noise than a dozen of any
other species of bird. I can speak with authority in regard
to the volume of noise Robins are capable of making, for

Fig. 91. INSPECTION.

they consider placing a camera up in a tree within three
feet of their home, a real grievance and they call out all
other birds in the neighborhood to help them proclaim the
fact.

I well remember the first Robin nest I ever "tackled"
photographically, although it was a good many years ago.
It was on an apple bough perhaps ten feet above ground.
Tents were not used at that time, but the camera shutter

108

was operated from a distant hiding place, by means of a
very long tube and a very large bulb. This particular pair
of Robins never did like me, for I had, on several occasions,
visited nests in adjoining trees, so you can imagine the
greeting that I received when I climbed into their own tree,
pulled up the camera and set it with the great staring eye

Fig. 92. ARE THEY HUNGRY'

M'ithin three feet of their nest, I spent more time and
energy and had more trouble securing pictures of these par-
ticular Robins than I have ever experienced with any other
kind of birds. Curiously enough they did not care so much
about the camera which was so close to their home as they
did about me, hiding behind a tree a hundred feet away.
To make a long story short, I had to cover the camera with
my focussing cloth and leave it in that tree over night, re-
turning the next morning with sufficient thread to operate

109

Fig. 93. Taken in 1-100 of a second, showing the active move-
ments of hungry young birds.

110

the camera shutter from a distance of three hundred feet.
I got the pictures but it was an unusual amount of trouble
to do so. especially for such common birds as Robins. The
different temperaments of different birds of the same spe-
cies is emphasized by the fact that I have since taken Robin
pictures with no concealment, from a distance of less than
six feet.

Fig. 94. THE NEST OX THE BLIND.

Most normal Robins place their rudely constructed mud-
and-grass houses in trees at heights of from six to twenty
feet from the ground. Of course there are eccentric Robins,
as well as persons, and some of these depart from the usual
customs of their kind. We sometimes see their nests in the
upper branches of elms, fully sixty feet up; I have also
found them built among roots under overhanging banks.

Ill

Fig. 95. Approaching the nest shown in figure 94,

These represent the extremes of altitude. We have many
instances of very odd locations a few of which I will men-
tion.

Some people consider quantity rather than quality as the
most important ingredient of music. Such must have been
the opinions of the Robins that built their nest on a girder
in a factory where the noise was continuous and deafening.
They obtained entrance through a broken window pane op-
posite the girder. It is very strange that they should have
had the temerity to even enter such a place and stranger
still that they should choose it for their home.

A suburban trolley line crosses a brook over a short bridge

112

made by heavy iron stringers on which are wooden ties for
the rails to rest upon. I think that if I were a bird and
had determined to build a home in any such place^ I should
at least have placed it on one of the stringers between the
ties where it would have had a secure foundation. Mrs.
Robin, however, perhaps because she wanted more excite -

Fig. 96. Sometimes worms were brought
for the little ones and again mulberries
from a nearby tree.

ment and danger, plastered her nest right against the side
of the rails, so that lialf rested on the lower flange and half
on the tie. Cars ran on a half -hour schedule so that every
fifteen minutes wheels rumbled over the rails within two
inches of the rim of the nest. The strangest part of this
nesting was that the nest remained in place and the young
were successfully reared. While the Robin was incubating
she always left the nest when cars passed over, at least dur-
ing the daytime while I was watching ; what she did at night

113

can only be conjectured, but I presume from the actions of
other birds under somewhat similar circumstances, that she
stayed "aboard" the nest and let the cars go over her.

Another pair of Robins liked city life. They chose a spot
in the very heart of a large city, where there were large
lawns from which they could easily extract the earth worms
so palatable to Robins, young and old, and also near a
large mulberry tree ; with these two handy sources of food

Fig. 97. I WONDER IF THIS WILL SATISFY HIM.

supply they felt that they had an ideal location. The only
objection was the numbers of English Sparrows that are al-
ways present in cities. The ruffians and our native song
and insectivorous birds, through no fault of the latter, can
seldom live peaceably in the same neighborhood. I think
that these Robins may have previously met with the same
misfortune that befell the pair that I will next tell about,
and decided that the best way to avoid further trouble from
that source was to trust to the protection of mankind. At

YOUNG ROBIN.

Showing the spotted breast common to the youngjof all mem-
bers of the Thrush Family even though the adults have un-
marked ones.

115

any rate, for three years in succession, they made their
nest on the top of a blind on the front piazza of the property
owner's house. As they were quite neat and did no damage
they were allowed to remain and furnished a good deal of
amusement for the family. The birds came and went with-
out fear even while members of the family were gathered

Fig. 99. STILL HUNGRY.

on the piazza directly under the nest. Sparrows were not
allowed about the house any more than possible, but some-
times bands of them would mob one of the Robins as it was
bringing food to its young; the bird could protect itself,
but usually lost its provender during the melee.

In the same city, another pair of Robins dwelt. They
built their nest in an elm tree in front of a large block. A
picture is shown of this Robin sitting upon the nest, —

116

Fig. 100. Veery about to settle upoii her greenish-blue

117

taken from a window in the block. English Sparrows con-
tinually pestered this pair of birds. Although nesting ma-
terial was abundant on every hand^ the sparrows, out of pure
deviltry, chose to steal it from the Robin rather than pick
it up from the ground. One after another would slyly steal
up under the nest, grasp the end of a straw or string, pull
it from its fastening and, with a gleeful chuckle, fly away
with it. These depredations continued until the bottom of
the nest was torn out and the Robin eggs were dashed to the
paving below.

Similar tragedies are enacted hundreds of times every
year in all cities and towns yet we still sometimes meet mis-
guided people who will undertake to defend the English
Sparrow. The person who can invent the surest, most ef-
fective and swiftest means of ridding our country of these
pests will be one of the greatest benefactors of mankind.

Veery or Wilson Thrush

As in the case of a great many of our birds, it is from its
song that this species receives its name. This song is a de-
scending spiral of tremulous, reedy whistles, which may be
interpreted as "Vee-r-r-r-r-y, vee-r-r-r-r-y," the 'veery' be-
ing repeated perhaps half a dozen times, each making a
complete turn of the spiral and each being of a lower pitch
and lesser volume than the preceding. This song may be
heard at almost all hours of the day and often until after
dusk in most woodland, during summer. Their call and note
of protest is a single, tremulous, mournful, ascending whis-
tle.

Veeries are perfectly garbed for the life they lead, on or
near the ground, their backs being almost a perfect match
in color to dead leaves.

Veeries build their nests of strips of bark and fine
grasses, placing them on the ground or very near it; often
it is set down in the middle of a patch of dead leaves,
sometimes in the midst of a clump of ferns and often

118

against the sides or in the middle of old stumps. The four
greenish-blue eggs loom up prominently in the deeply-cup~
ped nest; probably for that reason the bird does not leave
the nest unless she is seen^ for to do so would expose the
brightly colored eggs to view and result in discovery while
she can usually escape notice.

Although I have taken many pictures of Wilson Thrushes
in many different locations, the one chosen for this sketch

Fig. 101. VEERY RETURNING TO XEST.

illustrates one of my very first attempts at bird photogra-
phy. This nest was situated at the base of a clump of black-
berry vines, and contained four eggs. The bird proved to
be more shy than usual and in two weeks time I was able
to secure but two satisfactory pictures of her.

The day following its discovery an attempt was made to
picture the Thrush returning to the nest. The camera was
set with the lens but two feet distant from the eggs and I
was concealed in a heap of' brush twenty feet away. The

119

camera was covered with a green cloth and plentifully
sprinkled with leaves so as to attract as little attention as
possible, but undoubtedly it looked to the Veeries bigger
than a house would to us.

Both birds were away while I was getting in readiness.
Upon their return they were greatly astonished to see a
strange affair standing so near their home. They talked to
each other about it, in low tones, for several minutes and
then flew away. In about ten minutes they returned, talk-

Fig. 102. VEERY ON NEST.

ed some more and went off again. Evidently they thought
the camera was something that would remove its unwelcome
presence after awhile and they were going to wait for it to

go.

Just twice during the three days that I was present while
the nest contained eggs, did the owner visit it, that is to
actually alight upon the nest. Upon developing the first
exposure, the nest and eggs appeared beautifully but there
was not a trace of the Veery although she was standing on
the edge of the nest when I pressed the bulb. The second

liiU

Fig. 103. VEERY FEEDING HER YOUNG.

121

exposure was the one shown here, of the Veery entering
the nest.

The next morning the eggs had hatched. I waited until
the little birds were ten days old before attempting to again
photograph the parent. She was still very shy but remained
in sight of the nest all the time^ usually with her beak filled
with food for her babies. Her mate perched on a branch
hard by and^ after scolding for awhile, tried to induce her
to be brave by singing to her. Sometimes his "veery" song
would ring out exceedingly loud and clear, and again it
would be just a faint murmur as though the singer were a
great ways off, although he sat on the same twig about
thirty feet distant.

Finally Mrs. Veery descended to the ground and com-
menced walking in a circle about the nest, each circuit
bringing her a little nearer the goal. Every time she came
to the slender tube running from the camera to my place
of concealment she would pause and look at it critically,
then jump over it and turn quickh^ about to look it over
again. With her head cocked to one side so comically, I
could imagine her sajang to herself: "It looks like a worm,
but it can't be, for I never heard of one as long as that is."
At last she hopped to the nest, all the little heads were ex-
pectantly raised, mouths wide open like little yellow caverns,
and my long awaited opportunity had come.

Several times we went through this operation, but with
the exception of the picture shown here, the results were not
satisfactory to me. Several incidents happened to relieve
the monotony of waiting, — incidents that tended to still
further alarm and delay the return of an already shy
mother bird. The thrush was just on the point of approach-
ing the nest when a fusilade of shots was heard from the
edge of the woods. Soon a twenty-five year old, overgrown
boj^ appeared armed with a small repeating rifle. He pass-
ed by about twenty yards distant and showed his sporting;

122

I

Fig 104. You can sometimes approach and take a ''time''
jncture of a Wood Thrush without alarming her.

123

proclivities by firing at every animate object; when his sup-
ply of these ran short he would even shoot at the surround-
ing trees, just for excitement. I kept close watch to see that
he did not notice the camera for he certainly would have
tried to hit it, although his enthusiasm far exceeded his
skill for he missed everything that he fired at while in my
sight.

The next diversion was occasioned by one of the several
cows that were feeding in the swamp. She ambled over
to the camera and persisted in eating the leaves off the
branches with which I had covered it, and seemed to take it
unkindly when I was forced to drive her away to protect
the camera.

Wood Thrush

This is the largest and handsomest of our true thrushes
and;, in my estimation, has a much sweeter and more pleas-
ing song than any of the others, not excepting the famous
Hermit Thrush that I have often heard both in breeding
grounds and during migrations. The Wood Thrush song is
one impossible of adequate description, — clear and flute-
like, the notes coming after regular pauses, usually in
groups of threes, the last one of which is often held and
vibrated. These birds are lieard at their best early in the
morning and again just as darkness closes in about the
woods.

The Wood Thrush nest reminds one somewhat of that of
the Robin. A small percentage of mud also enters into its
construction, but not nearly as much as Robins use. The
bulk of the nest is composed of grasses, rootlets and a few
leaves. It is usually located in underbrush, where it is
shaded by taller trees, at heights of from six to ten feet
from the ground. The birds are usually very tame whil^
setting, often allowino- you to touch them before they will
leave the nest. After they have left, however, it is difficult
to induce them to return while vou are near. I have not

124

Fig. 105. YOUNG WOOD THRUSH.

yet been a])le to photograph them feeding their young,
probably liecanse T have not vet met the "right" bird.

While eggs of the Veery are of a greenish-blue, resem-
bling in size and shape those of Catbirds, eggs of the Wood
Thrush are of that peculiar color known as "Robin-egg'
blue and most nearly resemble eggs of Robins.

125

Fig. 106. WOOD THRUSH ON NEST.

They sit so closely that sometimes you may touch them before
they will leave the eggs.

* Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

The male of this species is alwaj's popular with bird lov-
ers, for he is very handsome, is always cheerful and has a
beautiful song. The female is popular too with those who
know her, but she is dressed so differently from her mate
and so inconspicuously, like a big sparrow, that she is sel-
dom noticed. The Grosbeak song is similar to. but readily

126

Fig. 107. NEST OF GROSBEAK

The eggs are pale greenish-blue
blotched with reddish brown.

distinguished from and of better character than that of thf^
Robin. His song is alwa\* preceded by a sharp chip^ usual-
ly about two seconds before the song proper commences.

The Grosbeak nest is rather rudely and scantily construct-
ed of rootlets. It is normally placed in bushes or small
trees from six to fifteen feet up. They, however, frequent-

127

Fig. 108. FEMALE GROSBEAK ON NEST.

She looks like a big sparrow,— not at all like her heaiitiful
mate.

ly make their homes within city limits and ^n such cases
often build high \vo in large trees. The four eggs are
greenish-blue^ covered with brown spots.

The male grosbeak is considered, especially by the ladies,
as a model bird-husband. He does at least half the work in
constructing the home and he sits upon the eggs about as
often and as long as his mate does. He is of a jovial dispo-
sition and likes his task so well that he commonly sings
while sitting on the nest. I have located a number of their
nests by searching for the singer. His song, when thus
engaged is usually much lower in tone, as though he feared

128

Fig. 109. Male Grosbeak with food for his tiny little ones.

he would disclose the hiding place of the home^ but he
must sing anyway.

I have often seen it stated that the female grosbeak sings,
too, but I have never seen one do so. The vear-old males
very closely resemble the female in plumage. Probably it
is the songs of these young males that are often accredited
to the females. I was delighted on one day in June \vhefx
I happened to come across a Grosbeak nest at an elevation
of only about four feet from the ground. Here was the
opportunity 1 had been awaiting and I could, in imagniation,
see a whole series of beautiful pictures illustrating the horn"
life of grosbeaks. Alas ! The best of plans go astra3^ 1

129

happened to have my camera with me when the nest was
discovered and, as the female was at the time sitting on her
eggs, I carefully moved up to within about four feet;, focus-
sed the camera and made an exposure of her. The next day
I took my tent and complete outfit in order to get a good
series of her approaching the nest. Not a sign of nest o:^
eggs was in sight. Undoubtedly my "find" was found bt
some youthful oologist and the grosbeak nest and eggs wen<
to grace (or disgrace) his cabinet.

Fig. 110. NEST OF CATBIRD.

130

Fig. 111. CATBIRD OX HER NEST. \'-,^f3p^^

131

BIRD MIMICS

Catbird

You cannot judge the disposition of a person by his
clothes^ neither can you judge that of a bird by its feath-
ers. A soft gray suit and black cap is the garb worn by
the Catbird^ — raiment that might indicate its wearer to be
a quiet^ Quaker-like bird although in reality no other has a
more irrascible temper than our Catbird. A perfect model
of propriety when everything is in accord with his tempera-
ment but a real virago and scold when the least thing goes
amiss.

I always like to listen to the Catbird song. It is a song

Fig. 112. A real virago if you provoke her to anger; and her
ire is very easily aroused.

132

Fig. 113. Her eyes snap as they ivatch your every move. No t
a sounrhfrom her until she leaves the nest, — then beware.

such as no other bird is capable of giving. The Mocking-
bird has a clearer^ sweeter and more lengthy song but it can-
not compare with that of the Catbird in its variety of notes,
musical and otherwise, or the absolute indifference to rhyme,
rhythm or reason with which it is delivered. The song can-
not be written or even adequately described for it is never
twice alike and seems to be made up on the spur of the
moment.

133

They often perch in the tops of bushes and sing for an
hour or more at a time, — wings and tail drooping, head
erect and eyes half closed. From between the half-opened
bills, come selections from the songs of robins, thrushes,
of wagon wheels, mewing of cats, clucking and cackling
of hens and noises of his own invention like nothing ever
before heard.

Fig. 114. NO SIGN OF FEAR IN THIS POSE.

Catbirds build quite large and substantial nests of small
twigs, rootlets and shreds of bark; the bowl-shaped inter-
ior is lined with slender black rootlets and on these the four
greenish-blue eggs are laid. The female is very loathe to
leave her nest while setting and will usually allow anyone
to almost touch her before she glides off the eggs. Once

\

134

off, however, her anger is unrestrained and she gives her
opinion of you in strident tones that alarm the bird popula-
tion for a long distance around. Catbird anger is not ex-
pressed solely in noise either; I have seen a chipmunk run-
ning for his life to escape from the attacks of a pair that
had caught him in the bushes near their nest; I have seen
them dash furiously at a black snake, that was hunting
among the branches for egg-dainties, until he was forced to

Fig. 115. YOUNG CATBIRD.

slip to the ground and flee ; and I have had one of them come
screaming at me and peck at my lingers as I reached
through the briers to feel what was in a nest. Their most
effective note of protest is a loud, whining "tschay" re-
peated as fast as they can get their breath and sometimes
drawn out into a continuous scream.

My experiences at photographing Catbirds have been
many and varied; I have had a lot of the experience and
got but few of the pictures. I have not yet induced one to
return and feed its young while I had a camera in position

135

Fig. 116. BROWN THRASHER ON NEST.

before the nest. When without a camera I have^ a number
of times, hidden beside Catbird nests and watched the
parents performing their various household duties. There
are "good" Catbirds and *'bad" ones; it is just as impossible
to photograph one of the latter class as it is to portray a
naughty child.

Brown Thrasher

The Thrasher is also something of a mimic but not as ac-
complished a performer in that line as the Catbird. He
has, however, a much better and more characteristic song of
his own.

Early one morning I was making my way along a side
hill, through sweetfern and briers and around scrub oaks

136

137

and thorn bushes. The shadow of a bird overhead caused
me to glance up just in time to see the long, bright-rufous
tail of a Thrasher disappear in a bush a short distance away.
Naturally as I passed, I parted the leaves to see what she
was doing there. I was scarcely prepared for the "hornet-
nest" that I had disturbed. An angry Thrasher confronted
me, her bright yellow eyes blazing with wrath, her wings

P^ig. 118. ON GUARD.

and tail wide spread. From her cavernous mouth came a
continuous stream of explosive "chirks," angry, grating
"Karr-r-r-r-r's" and clearly whistled "wheu's." I had in-
terrupted her as she was giving her children their break-
fasts and a Catbird or Thrasher meal cannot be disturbed
with impunity.

I stood perfectly still and she scolded until she became
tired; she gradually quieted down, her ruffled feathers as-

138

Fig. 119. She sometimes fed them great black ants.

sumed their normal positions and the angry glint left her
eyes. She began to wonder what she had been making all
the fuss about anyway. I whistled softly to her and, after
looking at me steadily for a few moments, she answered in
the same tone. In a few moments more she cleaned the
nest and left with no concern for my presence.

I had been on the way to photograph some towhees
about half a mile farther on but I decided to let the latter
go a day or two and set up my green tent beside the
Thrasher nest. I had it in readiness before she returned

139

and she paid not the slightest regard to it but went directly
to the nest. Unfortunately the sun shining through the
leaves caused a spotty background and made many shadows
about the nest. Usually it is possible to tie branches out
of the way so as to get good surroundings and light, but in
this case they would not admit of so doing.

Fig. 120. Spiders, too, ivere often
hunger of the little thrashers.

brought to appease the

The three young birds were about a week old, — just large
enough to commence to take an interest in things going
on about them. They had very acute and discriminating
hearing; other birds were singing in all directions about us
but thev alwavs heard mother Thrasher's low whistle.

140

usually given when she was twenty or thirty feet away
from the nest. They would prick up their ears and with
wide-open eyes and mouths opened wider still, each strive
to be the nearest to her as she hopped to the back edge of
the nest.

Mother Tlirasher showed no intentional partiality but
fed her three children in turn. Occasionallv she made a

Fig. 121. Sometimes Thrashers nest on the ground but more
often in bushes.

mistake and fed the same one twice in succession. As the
little fellows grew older they resented such slights. The
one whose turn it was to be fed M'ould raise his voice in
noisy protest if a nice, appetizing spider was, by mistake,
thrust down his brother's throat. As the morsel was imme-

141

diately swallowed he had no redress except to peck at his
brother as soon as his mother left.

Father Thrasher must have been on a vacation the day
that I found this nest for 1 did not see him, but he was in
evidence on several subsequent days. I never saw him
feed the little ones, though as a rule both parents share the
task between them. His plumage was in perfect condition,
while that of the female Thrasher was worn and several

* — ^": — = '^ ^^ ^ — ^

^:''

i;^

12^^^^

Fig. 122. YOUNG BROWN THRASHERS.

tail feathers were missing, showing that she had borne the
brunt of the hard work and perhaps fought most of the
battles of life too.

It was during the last week in ]May that I found the fore-
going nest. The little birds had left it and were scratching
for themselves early in June, while their parents undertook
to raise another family. This time they selected a place
only a short distance from the first one, but they built the

142

nest on the ground instead of in the thorn bush that stood
over it. From the appearance of her plumage, I am sure
that the female Thrasher was the same one that I had been
photographing. Either her memory was very poor or some-
one had frightened her, for she failed to be friendly with me
any more and refused to return to the second nest while I
was near.

Fig. 133. CEDAR WAXWING ON NEST.

143
BIRDS OF SILENCE
Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Birds or "Cherry Birds" as they are very often
called^ unfortunately are connoiseurs of fine fruit, particu-
larly of the various kinds of cultivated and wild cherries.
Unfortunately, too, owners of such trees seldom take any
interest in birds except to regard as undesirable all that
sometimes steal their fruit. There is no question but what
the birds do considerable damage to the cherry crop, con-
sequently it is difficult to reason the farmer out of his
habit of setting his hired boy to guarding the trees with a
shot gun. Cherries last but a short time and, during the re-
mainder of the year, Cedarbirds eat quantities of insects
especially canker worms that are so destructive to orchards.

Except during the nesting season they go about in flocks
of from six to twenty individuals. The most marked pecu-
liarity about them is their silence. A flock of fifteen or
twenty may perch in a wild cherry tree by the hour and not
a sound will indicate their presence unless it be the occa-
sional dropping of a cherry. Their only call is a nasal
hissing or whistling audible for but a short distance.

They remain in flocks until the nesting season, which
commences the latter part of June. Even then they often
congregate in their favorite cherry trees, but they come and
go as individuals.

Their nests are constructed of weeds, grasses, rootlets
and moss, skilfully woven together and lined with fine
grasses. Although nearly as large as robin nests they are
not nearly as easily seen for they are usually cunningly con-
cealed in clusters of leaves. Orchard trees furnish their
most frequently chosen nesting sites.

On the fifteenth day of one June, a Cedar Waxwing was
observed gathered web from a caterpillar nest. This was
carried to an old, lone apple tree standing near the wall in
a large field. No investigation was made at the time, but

144

Fig. 124. NEST OF WAXWING.

They are. very often placed in orchard trees. The composition
is chiefly ot grasses and string with considerable moss worked
into it. The eggs are a gray-blue with black specks.

145

the occurrence, was noted to be looked up later. On June
thirtieth search of the tree revealed a typical Cherry-bird
nest containing four dull bluish eggs with few black spots.

This pair of Cedar-birds made an unfortunate choice of a
nesting site, for they had built their house on two crossing
limbs. Every time the wind blew, their house tipped back
and forth and threatened to spill the contents out. As we
did not wish such a calamity to happen, we tied the branches
together and then, as an additional precaution, tied the nest
more firmly in place. Probably the birds did not appreciate
this kindness but it undoubtedly saved the lives of their
little ones as will be seen later. While we were engaged in
making over their home as we thought it should be, the two
Cedar-birds perched on the topmost branches and feebly
protested.

It was twenty days before we again visited the nest. We
could see from a distance that it was safe and that the
parent birds were busy feeding little ones. They both left
and flew about overhead until they calmed sufficiently to
alight on their lookout perches and watch to see what we
were about.

As soon as the branch was touched, up flew four heads
with wide open mouths the interior of which was blood-red
in color, — very difi'erent from that of the young of other
birds. They were repulsive little things, — closed eyes, skin
like soft black leather and not a sign of feathers about
them.. As soon as they found that no food was forthcoming,
they cuddled down in the bottom of the nest and remained
quiet while we were making our preparations.

The limbs were weighted with a large stone so as to bring
the nest down to a height of about five feet, all intervening
branches were tied out of the way and the one that shaded
the nest had a string attached so that it could be pulled to
one side and let sunlight strike the nest when we wished.

After seeing that the picture was satisfactory on the

13

146

Fig. 125. Sometimes cherries were fed in their whole state,
and again they were crushed.

147

ground glass we retired to the other side of the wall. We
found that we needed no concealment; as long as we were
out of sight from the tree, the Cedar-birds considered it
safe to go to and from the nest without regard to us. After
the female had looked the nest over carefully and found
that we had not harmed the little ones she flew away leaving
her mate on guard.

Upon her return, the two parents talked matters over a
few minutes and then she slyly hopped down, branch by
branch, until she was beside the nest. Although to all ap-
pearances she had brought no food, she had a plentiful sup-
ply concealed in her throat. Cedar-birds feed their young
by regurgitation; sometimes the food is administered to the
little ones in a well masticated state and again it may be in
the raw condition.

As she stepped to the edge of the nest all the young
heads were elevated and she assumed an attitude of inspec-
tion, watching them intently for a few moments possibly
to see which was the most in need of food. As each was
reaching its very highest and opening its mouth to the
greatest possible extent it seemed to be a difficult proposi-
tion to decide. At last she made a convulsive movement of
the head and, — a bright red cherry appeared in her bilL
This was quickly thrust down the throat of the nearest
little bird; as it was not instantly swallowed she took it
away from him and gave it to the next one. If there is
not immediate muscular response in the throat of a young
bird, food is at once withdrawn and given to one in a fit
condition to receive it; this is done at least by all the song
and insectivorous birds with which I am familiar.

Cedar-birds seem to do everything systematically. One
of these always remained on guard and the other joined two
more that flew overhead at regular intervals, the three going
to a cherry tree about a quarter of a mile away where they
managed to find some belated fruit. The politeness of

148

Fig. 126. She icould look at them intently as though to decide
tvhich ivas the most in need of food.

149

Cedar-birds has frequently been noted. Often when a num-
ber are feeding, one will seize a cherry, pass it to the next
and this one in turn give it to his neighbor. A number of
times I have seen cherries thus go the rounds of three or
four birds before they were swallowed.

On the return trip, our bird would leave and drop down
to the topmost twig of the apple tree while the other two
continued down into the valley where they had their homes.
Mother Wax-wing fed the little birds several times while
her mate kept watch. She was not a bird to be imposed on
for very long, however; after calling to him for some time
she flew to his side and pecked at him until he went down to
the nest and gave his children the cherries he had been hold-
ing in his mouth for so long. She went along with him and
we secured a good view of the group just as he was "cough-
ing up" some food.

During this day the parent birds fed the young at inter-
vals of about ten minutes for half an hour, then the mother
brooded them for the next half hour. Two days later we
had a violent thunder storm accompanied by very high
winds. I very much feared for the safety of the nest and
its occupants and was very glad to find later that our strings
had held things in place, although the nest was a little awry.

As we approached the parents left the nest and the young
birds, now almost large enough to fly, assumed the same
motionless attitude, heads well forward, that the adults al-
ways take when startled.

I never before had young birds act as these did when we
placed them side by side on a branch. They were all as
"mean" as they could be but one of them was a regular imp;
just like a spoiled child, he would bite and kick and throw
himself backwards ofl^ the branch, regardless of how he
fell, — usually, however, he would grab a neighbor by the
wing or tail and pull it along with him. When we could
get them to stay on the branch at all, they looked stiff and

150

Fig. 127. RIPE CHERRIES.

unnatural^ just like stuffed images. The three little Cedar-
birds in the picture that is shown belong to another family;
they behaved beautifully^ sat perfectly still and would each
turn its head just where we wanted it. Unfortunately the
parents of these birds could not be induced to return and
feed them, while the ones that owned the unruly children
would alight on the branch and feed the single little bird we
•could induce to remain still.

151

Fig. 128. The little birds were mean subjects; they simply
would not pose.

The birds usually brought two^ three or four cherries at
a time in their throats. They did not^ however, feed the
little Cedar-birds entirely upon cherries for they sometimes
brought different species of moths and caterpillars. Often
while one was perched on the lookout twig awaiting the re-
turn of its mate, it would dash into the air and snap up a
passing insect; sometimes these would be taken to the
young, but more often would be eaten hj the captor.

152

Fig. 129. YOUNG CEDARBIRDS.

CUCKOOS.

Two species of Cuckoos are commonly found in eastern
North America, the Black-billed and the Yellow-billed. The
former is the most abundant in the northern half of the
United States and the latter in the southern half. The two
species are very easily distinguished although beginners in
bird study often get them confused. The Yellow-billed
Cuckoo is the largest, has a yellow lower mandible and the
outer tail-feathers are black with broad white tips. The
Black-billed species has an entirely black bill and the tail
is a uniform olive-brown with narrow white tips to the outer
feathers.

Both species build very shabby nests, — mere platforms of
a few twigs, usually lined with a few catkins. The eggs of
the Yellow-billed species are considerable larger and paler
colored than those of the other. Three or four eggs is a
normal set. These are deposited at very irregular inter-
vals, sometimes several days intervening betw^een layings.
The bird often commences to set when only one egg is laid,

153

Fig. 130. NEST OF BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. X^IB^-

154

therefore it is very common to find eggs and young birds
in the nest at once or young varying greatly in size.

Our cuckoos do not lay their eggs in nests of other birds,
but alvrays build their own nests. European Cuckoos,
which belong to a different genus, do not build nests but lay
their eggs in nests of other birds. Much confusion exists

Fig. 131. BLACK-BILL'S NEST AMONG BRIERS.

on this subject because writers getting their ideas from
English books speak of the Cuckoo as a parasite and even
school teachers often ignorantly inform their pupils of this
fact which is not true concerning our birds. The only bird-
parasite we have is the Cowbird.

I have included Cuckoos under "Birds of Silence" be-

155

cause they are very slow and quiet in their actions and do
not often use their voices, but they can sing, or rather they
liave notes which can hardly be called songs. The tones of
the two species are very similar but one familiar with them
can always tell which kind it is by the sound and the
rhythm. The Black-bill has regular intervals between the

Fig. 132. NEST OF YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO.

"kow-kow's" while the Yellow-bill usually rapidly retards
his.

Although Cuckoos build homes and care for their young
after a fashion, they do not have the attachment for them
that most birds do for their little ones. I have not yet, out
of probably half a dozen trials, succeeded in getting one to

156

return either to the eggs or to feed young when I was pre-
pared for picture-making. Some day I expect to find one
whose home ties are stronger. They do, however, have a
degree of affection for one another as the folloMing will
show :

Fig. 133. YELLOW-BILL'S— JUST HATCHING.

Cuckoos are very fond of tent caterpillars, in fact they
eat more of these hairy creatures than all the rest of the
birds together. One day I saw a Black-bill Cuckoo sitting
beside a large caterpillar nest. He would utter a few notes
and then eat a few caterpillars. Evidently he intended to
stay by his find until they w^ere all gone. After a while he
took one in his bill and flew into a thicket a short distance
away. In a few moments he was back again and after
regaling himself for awhile^ off he went with another mouth-

157

Fig. 134. FIRST STAGE— PIN FEATHERS.

Fig. 135. SECOND STAGE— Quills.

158

ful. I carefully walked around the thicket and quietly
parted the leaves. He was just returning with another
caterpillar protruding from either side of his bill. He did
not notice me and came directly to his nest which proved to
be only about six feet from me. Instead of giving the mor-
sel to young Cuckoos as I had expected^ he passed it to his

Fig. 136. AT LAST— FEATHERS.

mate who. as I afterwards learned, was closely sitting u23on
her four blue eggs. It was an act of devotion that, know-
ing Cuckoos as I thought I did. I had not expected to see. I
have always thought that had not somebody or something
taken the eggs from this nest, it would have furnished me
with the opportunity to have gotten some successful pic-
tures.

159

ONLY SPARROWS.

"Oh, I only saw a Robin, a Bluebird and a lot of spar-
rows !" I have heard similar expressions many a time. It
is amazing to find what a very large percentage of the peo-
jjle regard any brown bird as 'just a sparrow'. There are
a lot of sparrows, but they are all quite different in plum-
age and some of them are very beautiful. Nearly
all of them have beautiful plumage or interesting
songs. There should be just as much interest taken
in the study of the sparrows as in the warblers
or any other family of birds. The reason for this sort of
apathy concerning them is probably due to the very abund-
ance and undesirable qualities of the English Sparrows that
infest our streets everywhere.

Chipping Sparrow.

On June twenty-seventh, a Chipping Sparrow was seen
flying through a small growth of pines. This w^as nothing
unusual for Chipioing Sparrow^s were plentiful about the
place, but this bird had a green worm in its beak; conse-
quently she was kept under observation until she disappear-
ed in the top of a little pine. The voices of little birds
could be heard in the same spot, but so well was tlie nest
concealed that several circuits of the tree failed to reveal it.

Carefully parting the boughs at the top, we opened to
view the pretty scene of the mother Chippy, standing on the
edge of a nest, admiring her family of four. She seemed to
show neither anger nor fear at the interruption but viewed
us with as much interest as we did her. It was a strange
fact that this pair of birds, nesting more than half a mile
from the nearest habitation, showed less fear than a pair
that dwelt in a public park where people were constantly
passing within three feet of them.

It was a very bright looking lot of little ones, reared in
this cozy and secure home, where the sunlight filtered down

Fig. 137. A CHIPPY PORTRAIT.

Perfectly fearless, he stood between Ms little ones and the
camera although the latter icas but three feet away.

l&l

/.K

y

Fig. 138. NEST OF CHIPPING SPARROW.

They build most frequently in orchard trees; the eggs are pale
blue ivith black specks.

through the same needles that protected them from the
breezes that always swept across the top of the hill. The
nest was made of small black rootlets and lined with the
horsehair that is ever-present in nests of Chipping Spar-
rows. Besides the four young there was, in the nest^ one
egg, pale blue with small black specks on the large end,
which had not hatched.

The male Chippy returned to the nest within five minutes
after the camera had been focussed. We used no tent nor
concealment of any kind,- — simply stood behind the camera

11

162

and worked the shutter with the ordinary bulb and tube.
They were the very tamest birds with which I have ever
dealt, which accounts in part for the excellent results that
were obtained photographically at this nest.

At his first visit the male bird brought no food, but just

Fig. 139. Both adult birds came and went freely, ivithout
regard to our presence.

came to see that the little ones were all right. The picture
entitled "A Chippy Portrait" represents the result of the
first 'shot', showing him as he was inspecting the camera.

He did not move while plates w^ere being changed, but
just as we were in readiness for another exposure, his mate
was seen coming with a green worm, and he left. As she

163

Fig. 140. They reached eagerly for the green worm Mother
Chippy brought.

reached the edge of the nest all the young birds rushed to
meet her. They were so very eager^ each to receive the
morsel she brought that they very nearly spoiled the next
picture by their rapid motions. We made but five pictures
at this time and two of these were worthless because both
the adults and little ones moved too fast for the shutter.

The following day was one of those rare, perfect days
for photographs, — very light, but the sky sufficiently over-

165

cast to prevent any shadows. At nine o'clock we were back
in the grove to see our new acquaintances. Although the
young had appeared very 'smart' the day before, we were,
nevertheless, surprised to find that they had all left the nest.
Two of them were sitting, side by side, on a small dead
limb of a neighboring tree, but the other two were not in
sight.

Fig. 142. Food is pushed down the throats of the young— not
simply dropped into their mouths.

After watching the old birds for quite a while, we at last
located the missing pair and returned them to the side of
their mates, who had already been carefully focussed in the
camera. After having once tested their wings and found
that they could fly for short distances, they were not con-
tent to sit still, especially just where we wanted them to.
Time after time, they made short excursions and had to be
brought back.

The adults did not seem to be greatly alarmed as to the
safety of the little ones w^e were handling so much and.

166

after we had them arranged to our satisfaction and had
stepped back, one of them flew away after food. He was
back very quickly and at once went to feed the little birds,
while his mate started off to hunt too. They continued this
routine for a long time, one going as soon as the other came
in sight.

Fig. 143. This is one of the failures, but it shoivs the amount
of movement that occurred in l-ioo of a second,— wings from
side to their highest point.

Our illustrations show a picture of father Chippy as nc
pushed a whole beak-full of plant lice down the throat or
one of his offspring and also of the mother as she deliverea
her antidote for hunger. You will notice that in both these
pictures there is a 'vacant chair' ; one of the little fellows

167

could not overcome his desire to aviate and had to be chased
about every five minutes.

They came and went in turn^ so regularly that we con-
cluded that if we could detain one of the adults for a few
minutes we would have them both arriving at the same time.
The scheme worked to perfection. We prevented the fe-
male from feeding the young until the male was seen com-

Fig. 144. A LONG REACH.

Notice that the adult is reaching over two little birds and the
space where another one should be.

ing in the distance, and as a result, secured the picture en-
titled "The Chippy Family", Mother, on the right of the
picture, has just fed the two birdies nearest to her and is
turning to leave just as father arrives with a beautiful
green worm for the remaining little ones. I regard this as
the best bird photograph that I ever secured; every one of
the six birds is absolutely sharp, even to the finest feathers.
Only those who have made bird pictures can realize how
slight a movement will show on the plate.

The next appearance of the two birds at the same time
is shown in "Preparing Breakfast". This shows one of

168

the occurrences in bird-life that is very rarely witnessed
and still less often photographed. The male bird is the one
nearest the young; he had just fed the little one beside
him and was on the point of leaving when the female ar-
rived with a large caterpillar. To our surprise, instead of
alighting on the other side of the little birds, as usual, she

Fig. 145. AN ANTIDOTE FOR HUNGER.

lit at the side of her mate. In bird language, she instruct-
ed him what to do, and the next moment he had hold of one
end of the caterpillar, bearing down with all his might; she
lifted up on her end until it parted in the center. The two
youngsters in the middle , who have anticipation written on
every line of their faces, were the recipients of the broken
morsel.

We were also fortunate in being able to reproduce another
very interesting performance, shown in the picture entitled
"A Long Reach". You will notice that the little bird with

169

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170

which we have had so much trouble, has taken another flight
and is missing. The mother is just turning to go, and
shows a slight motion in the picture. The father is reach-
ing entirely over two birds and the space where the other
should have been, to feed the one farthest away from him.
It is no mean acrobat, who can thus maintain his equilibrium
with his center of gravity falling so far outside his support.

One never knows until after the plates are developed,
whether he has secured success or failure, when engaged in
bird photography, so we exposed about two dozen plates,
of which more than half came out satisfactorily, the poor
ones being due to too rapid motion on the part of the sub-
jects.

These birds may be "only sparrows" but they are very
interesting ones, as anyone seeing them as we did. would
have to admit.

. Song Sparrow.

Go where you will, throughout the length and breadth of
our land and still you will find Song Sparrows. In the
deserts of southwestern United States is a very pale colored
race that matches perfectly the soil and surroundings. In
northwestern United States and British Columbia is a very
dark Song Sparrow, — in fact all the birds from that region
are darker than the same species are from other sections of
the country. In Alaska is a very large Song Sparrow, — a
veritable giant when compared to our eastern one.

Everywhere you will hnd that the habits of these birds
are practically alike and their songs are nearly enough like
those of our common eastern bird to be easily recognized.

The song of the Song Sparrow has been set to a good
many words ; the one that always most appealed to me is the
"Molly, put the teakettle-ettle-ettle on and we'll all take
tea-ee-ee"; words that do not mean much on paper, but
easily fit in place when you are listening to the song as ren-
dered by the bird.

These birds are not at all particular in regard to their
nesting sites. Usually they conceal their homes in thick
clumps of grass or weeds, or in bushes not far from the
ground, but I have found them in fields where there was not
a spear of grass to oftVr shade and on ledges that were
almost bare.

Although Song Sparrows are among our most common
birds and their nests are very easy to find, I have made but
very few pictures of them, chiefly because I have always had
other nests to occupy what time I had at my disposal. On

Fig. 147. NEST OF SONG SPARROW.

172

Fig. 148. SONG SPARROW.

a number of occasions when I have been without a camera
I have found individual birds that were exceedingly tame,
in fact I have had several alight on my hand to feed little
birds that I was holding. Others have allowed me to stroke
them on the back as they were sitting on their nests, but
of course such instances are unusual, for Song Sparrows
usually chirp and scold vigorously if anyone comes near
their home.

Field Sparrow.

As would be judged from their name, these birds are in-
habitants of fields, — not fields carpeted with fresh green
grass, though, but dry side hills or hollows that are usually
plentifully sprinkled with small shrubs.

Throughout the East, the high-pitched, piping melody
that constitutes their song is one of the most familiar
sounds of rural districts. Commencing with a single long-
drawn whistle of intermediate pitch, it continues through
a succession of three or four very high notes and ends in a
pleasing little trill. It is a rather pretty little song

173

Fig. 149. FIELD SPARROW.

that once heard will not likely be forgotten or confused with
that of any other bird.

They nest about equally often on the ground or a foot or
two up in small bushes; in either case the nest is usually
well concealed from view. There is a great diiference in
the temperaments of individual birds of the same species.
One pair of Field Sparrows may perch on the top of a bush

174

Fig. 150. CLEANING THE NEST.

and chirp excitedly as long as an intruder is in sight, while
another may quiet down in a very few moments and carry
on their household duties as though they were alone. The
birds shown in the accompanying pictures belonged to the
la-tter class.

The nest, or what was later to be the nest, was discovered
almost as the first straw was laid. During two hours fol-
lowing the discovery the nest grew wonderfully. The fe-

175

Fig. 151. FIELD SPARROW.

male was the carpenter, her mate's part consisting of bring-
ing part of the material. Both birds would usually depart
together, but she always returned first and had her grasses
wound into place and was ready to take his as soon as he
appeared.

In the course of three weeks, three of the four eggs that
she had laid, hatched. When the young were six days old,
several pictures were taken of scenes at the nest. As in the
case of the Chipping Sparrows no attempt at concealment
was made ; the camera was within three feet of the nest and
I was seated on the ground just back of it. The birds paid
scarcely any attention to me and were back at the nest in
less than ten minutes after I had things in readiness for
them. Ants, spiders and plant lice formed the bulk of the

176

food that was brought, although, occasionally a caterpillar
or a hard-shelled beetle would be brought in. Nearly all
their food was gathered from the ground, in fact many
times they would have pieces of grass also in their beaks,
that they had accidentally pulled up while seizing the in-
sects.

Fig. 152. YOUNG FIELD SPARROWS.

On the twelfth day after the eggs hatched, the nest was
empty; the young were near by for the parents were anx-
iously calling, but we were able to find but two of them.

Grasshopper Sparrow.

This is one of the most inconspicuous of all sparrows.
The bird itself is of a rather shy nature and seldom allows
one to approach sufficientl}^ near to study it in detail with-
out the aid of a good field glass. Its song is just a weak
insect-like chirping or rather buzzing, a sound that would es-

BALTIMORE ORIOLE

Froui a painting

FLICKER

From a pauittug

177

cape the notice of probably ninety-five out of a hundred per-
sons. They make their homes on the ground in fields and
pastures. When singing you can usually locate them on a
stone wall, fence post or some little elevation in the mid-
dle of the field.

The continued presence of a pair of "Grasshoppers" in a
field that I often crossed, finally tempted me to try and find
their nest. A large stone in the middle of the field furnish-
ed a lookout perch for the male bird. He commenced
chirping as soon as I climbed the wall and in a few mo-
ments his mate appeared on the rock too; it was impossible
to tell from which direction she came as she was wholly
concealed by the tall grass when she ran from the nest. At-
tempts on several days, to start her from the nest, failed
because of the vigilance of the guard, until I almost de-
spaired of finding it. One morning I crept carefully up to
the wall and watched, without being seen, for over an hour.
At last I was rewarded by seeing a sparrow-like bird fly
from the grass, across the fields. Another wait of a half
hour and she returned, first alighting on the rock beside
the male and then, as she had no idea anyone was watching,
she flew about fifty yards away and dropped into the grass
at the same point she had risen from.

I got quickly over the wall and rushed to the spot; as the
watchman had no time to warn her, she flushed from the
nest within ten feet of me. It contained five pretty, white,
spotted eggs in a little grass cup well arched over on the
southern side so as to always be shaded within.

Daily visits were now paid, and the habits of the female
gradually underwent a change as the eggs advanced in incu-
bation, until she would allow me to reach a point where I
could look in and see her. The next time, I took the camera
already set on a short tripod. In order not to startle her
too suddenly, I walked slowly by the nest several times,
as though I did not see her, pausing a little longer each

12

178

Fig. 153. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW.

179

time when in front of the nest. But as soon as I brought
the camera in view she was off like a flash and the trials
were over for that day.

Several more trials on succeeding days got her a little
used to the machine and one day I was able to get focussed,
draw the slide from the holder and give an exposure of two
seconds^ the result of which is shown in the picture of her
sitting on the nest. Her brown eyes twinkled with excite-
ment and anxiety but she kept her place and I quietly re-
moved the camera and left her. The eggs hatched the next
day but I troubled her no more as I could not spare more
time for pictures of her, and I doubt if it would have been
possible to have gotten them.

THE IMPOSTOR.

A happy pair of Maryland Yellow-throats selected as a
place in which to build their house, a spot on the bank of a
tiny brook. The male Yellow-throat was a beautiful bird,
a gentlebird of leisure and fashion; he had a hand, or at
least a voice, in all that went on in the little bird community
in which he dwelt. He tried to settle all disputes that arose
among the other birds ; his notes of protest were loudest if
anyones home was raided or disturbed by bird, mammal or
man and he was the watchman of the village, his long,
rattling alarm ringing out if any form of danger appeared.

He flashed here, there and everywhere, his be:idy eyes
twinkling in their black mask as he peered from the under-
brush ; ever and anon he darted to the top of some shrub and
his loud, clear "witchery-witchery-witchery" would ring out
above the songs of other birds. He encouraged his mate to
work her hardest at building their little cup-shaped home,
but he did not assist her in any other way. The nest was
made of grasses and strips of bark; it was set among the
weeds so that the bottom just touched the ground. The in-
side was very deep, as is customary among these birds, — so
deep that the sitting bird was entirely below the rim.

180

Fig. 154. YELLOW-THROAT RETURNING TO NEST. "^

181

Fig. 155. NEST OF MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT.

One morning a handsome little egg appeared in the nest,
— delicate, white, spotted chiefly about the large end. The
next morning another similar one lay beside it. At some
time during that day the imposter appeared, a Cowbird.
As Mrs. Yellow-throat was not at home and the gallant sire
was having an argument with some of his neighbors, she set-
tled comfortably on the top of the little nest and when she
left, there were three eggs, one much larger than the others
and more thickly spotted.

No one can tell the feelings of a little bird when it finds

182

a spurious egg in its nest. Birds^ except in unusual in-
stances, cannot count, but they must recognize the difference
in sizes between the eggs. Usually they accept the odd one
without protest but instances often occur when a little bird,
wiser than others of her kind, rolls the undesired egg out of
the nest or builds another bottom to her nest, sacrificing her
own eggs with the one of the Cowbird.

Fig. 156. YELLOW-THROAT ON NEST.

In this instance, the little Yellow-throat laid two more
eggs of her own and the nest would hold no more. As usual,
the Cowbird egg, probably because it is larger and receives
more warmth from the sitting bird, hatched a day before the
smaller eggs. I passed by the nest and watched the pro-
gress of the young nearly every morning. Male and fe-
male Yellow-throat were very busy feeding the little birds ;
the young Cowbird, because of his larger size and much
larger appetite, received food twice to every once for the
rightful occupants of the nest. Young Maryland Y''ellow

throats are much stronger and more active than the young
of most other warblers, so that all four of them were able to
stand the crowding and pushing of the young Cowbird. In
many instances, especially when nests are located above
ground, the little birds that really belong there are crowded
out or else suffocated.

Fig. 157. He started in alarm as he heard the click of the
camera shutter.

My plans for pictures at this nest were "wholly upset.
The day before I expected them to leave the nest, I appear-
ed ready to do business. The four little Yellow-throats
and one large Cowbird were all in the nest but. so crowded
they scarce could move. The tent was placed in position
and the camera carefully focussed. At the last moment I
reached out to remove an offending blade of grass that
■would have appeared out of focus in a picture. Like a flash.

184

four little Yellow-throats scuttled away in four directions
through the weeds, leaving their clumsy foster-brother in
the nest. I caught just one of the little sprites but he
proved unmanageable so that I had to let him go and confine
my photographic attempts to the Cowbird.

Fig. 158. A male Yellow-throat feeding a young Cowbird
bigger than itself. -.. ^

He was perched on a branch in front of the camera and
I waited for developments. The two adult Yellow-throats
evidently talked the matter over and decided that she should
look after her four, sprightly offspring, while he would take
care of the larger, helpless member of the family. Sir
Yellow-throat coaxed and he coaxed and scolded and scold-
ed trying to make the young Cowbird leave the perch; he
even tried to knock him off as he flew past, but the stolid
youngster would not budge. He just opened his mouth to
its fullest extent and begged loudly for something to eat;
he cared not nor thought of danger, — just of his appetite.

185

The Yellow-throat finally concluded that it was useless
to threaten^ persuade or reason with such a young one and
started searching for something with which to quiet it. He
finally brought a green worm and^ with many misgivings
and false starts^ hopped out on the branch where the large
babj^-bird stood flapping his wings and coaxing. Birds can
move very quickly but I have never seen one jump as sud-
denly as Yellow-throat did when the shutter clicked. Be-
fore the picture was taken^ which happened in one one-
hundredth part of a second^ he had made a complete beat
of his wings as is clearly shown in the photograph. As
no harm had come to him at the first shot^ he was not as
wary when he approached the second time^ and I secured
him on the plate without motion.

For a month afterward, that little Cowbird was still de-
pending upon its small step-father, following him every-
where, always fluttering its wings and begging for more,
more, more.

Fig. 159. NEST OF RED-EYED VIREO.

186
SWINGING HOMES.

Red-eyed Vireo

Bringing with them the good cheer of the south, Red-
eyed Vireos return to northern United States about the mid-
dle of May. They are the most abundant of the vireos and
are also the most persistent songsters that we have. From
morn until night;, song after song pours from their tireless
throats until at times, especially when one is listening to a
new or unusual song of some other bird, it becomes very ir-
ritating. The vireo song is a rather lazily whistled repeti-
tion of the word vireo with varying accents and modulations.
It is a song that readily lends itself for the imaginative per-
son to substitute numerous words and sentences; delivered
in an intermittent, rambling, recitative manner that has
given it the local name of "preacher-bird".

Vireos are among the most useful protectors of the foli-
age,— always busy ; most birds stop work and raise the head
to deliver their song but with this species, work and song
go hand in hand, even though he be hanging head-down
looking over the under surface of the leaves.

Some of my pleasantest hours among birds were passed
at the home of a pair of Red-eyed Vireos, the one shown in
the accompanying illustrations. These birds had chosen for
their summer residences one of the prettiest places ever se-
lected by a pair of vireos. It was in a pleasant piece of
woods overlooking a beautiful lake. Not only were their
natural surroundings pleasant, but they had congenial
neighbors on every side, a fact that added greatly to my
pleasure.

While sitting within my photographic tent, beside this
nest, I could, with my glasses, see all that happened at the
home of a pair of Redstarts about three hundred feet away.
About forty feet distant, in the vertical face of a gravel
pit, was the entrance to a tunnel leading to the home of a
pair of kingfishers. And within six feet of the edge of the

187

Fig. 160. VIREO OX NEST.

No'e that the rim of the basket is low on the right side so that
the bird can sit comfortably .

188

tent was the nest of an Ovenbird, containing four eggs.
These last birds did not get used to me for a long time
and scolded a great deal. I imagine that some chipmunks
living in a stump a short distance away could have thrown
some light on the disappearance of the Ovenbird eggs, that
took place before I made a second visit.

A little farther off, out of sight but still within stone's
throw, were nests of Wood Thrush. Catbird, Thrasher,
Towhee, Veery, Prairie and Chestnut-sided Warblers and
Indigo Bunting. But let us return to the vireo nest. When
I found it, the nest contained four eggs that were evidently
well incubated, for the vireo was sitting very closely.

This nest was very strongly built of strips of bark, plant
fibres and grasses woven into a compact basket that swung
from a crotch of a young chestnut shoot. The side opposite
the crotch was lower than the others, allowing the vireo to
sit in a comfortable position instead of doubled up as is
the bird on the other nest shown. But one picture was taken
on the day the nest was found, the one showing the four
eggs. Three days later the eggs had hatched.

On the morning that the little birds were five days old,
we again visited the nest carrying camera and tent. As we
approached, we saw that the mother bird was brooding her
young and that her mate was standing on the edge of the
nest beside her. At no time while we had the camera in po-
sition did both birds come to the nest at the same time, al-
though frequently one stood just out of range while its mate
was busy feeding the babies.

The young were fed with clock-like precision beginning
within ten minutes from the time the tent was set up. The
longest period of waiting between visits was ten minutes
and the shortest, two minutes. They were fed chiefly upon
various worms and caterpillars, with an occasional dragon-
fly or moth. The picture showing the male vireo with his
bill thrust down the throat of one little fellow illustrates a
number of interesting points. First: — Birds do not simply

189

drop food into the mouths of their little ones but thrust il
far down the throat. Second: — Notice that the head of
the one being fed is raised higher than the others. The
more hungry a little bird is, the higher it will reach, a fact
that insures their being fed in rotation. The little fellow

Fig. 161. On one occasion the male brought a large dragon-
fly, carefully di'ested of wings and all hut one leg.

in front is much smaller and a day or two younger than the
other two (the fourth egg did not hatch), but when the
next morsel was brought his wide-open, appealing mouth
was raised above that of his brothers and sisters. Third: —
Notice the motion of the head of the young bird on the

190

Fig. 162. Food is thrust well down the throats of the little
ones.

191

right. In this case the whole head^ as shown by the lower
mandible^ was oscillating about the upper mandible as an
axis. It is this rapid motion of little birds that spoils many
a photograph.

On one occasion, the male vireo brought a large dragon-

Fig. 163 He moved too quickly for the camera shutter this
time.

fly which he carefully prepared for nestling-food by di-
vesting it of wings and all but one leg. He then walked
along the branch and thrust it headfirst down the throat of
one of his children, leaving fully an inch of the body stick-
ing out of the little fellows mouth. I had supposed that
he would surely divide the fly into a portion for each and
was greatly astonished to see him feed such a large mor-
sel to such a small bird. The contortions of the little fel-

I9i

low^ as he slowly but surely swallowed the dragonfly, were
painful to watch ; it took about four minutes for it to entire-
ly disappear from view. For fifteen minutes this little
bird lay quietly in the bottom of the nest, at the end of
which time he again bobbed up, as hungry as ever.

Fig. 164. VIREO ENTERING NEST.

I show two views of another nest located in a little oak.
This nest is of the ordinary type, with a high rim all around
so that the sitting bird has to have her tail erect. The
black-bordered superciliary and maxillary lines on the bird
entering the nest from the rear, give its face a very peculiar

193

Fig. 165. RED-EYED VIREO.

appearance, almost as though it were equipped with auto-
mobile goggles.

This last nest was in a very ill-chosen location. When
these pictures were made, at which time the nest contained
eggs, the bottom of the structure was less than six inches
from the ground. By the time the eggs had hatched and the
young were a week old, the nest touched the ground. Two
days later it was empty ; some marauding animal had made
away with the little birds and perhaps captured the mother
too, for I did not see her again although the male was in
the neighborhood for several weeks.

13

194

THE VIREO.

Bertha A. Josliu.

"Dear me. dear me; hear me, liear me.""

What's the matter pray ?
Clatter, clatter ; chatter, cliatter^

All the livelong day.
Up among the bloom and leaf.

Peeping out from underneath^,
Little bird so pretty, O,

Don't you ever stop to breathe,
Darling little Vireo?

Trees that screen it, dainty greenlet.

Never screen its song.
"What so happy, O, as the Vireo?"

Ringeth loud and long.
"What so cheery, O, as the Vireo,

What so jolly. O, sweet,
What so merry, O, as the Vireo .^"

All the leaves repeat.

If rain doth spatter, thunder clatter.

Still for a bit I'll be.
But the sun's behind it, I never mind it.

Safe up in my tree.
It does not matter, the clouds will scatter.

So I rest myself a wee.
Then clatter, clatter, chatter, chatter.

Over lawn and lea.
"Hear me. the Vireo, all so merry, O.'*

Bubbling in my tree.

195

Yellow-thkoated Vireo.

The home of the Yellow-throated Vireo is visually swung
from the fork of a branch ranging from ten to forty feet
above ground^ while that of the Red-eyed species is usually
found less than ten feet up. The nests of the two species
are constructed so nearly alike that they cannot be distin-
guished from one another positively, but the eggs of the
present species have a very few^ sm-ill reddish-brown spots
while those on the eggs of Red-eye are black.

The song of the Yellow-throated Vireo is very different
from that of the Red-eye^, although anyone would readily
recognize it as that of some sort of a vireo. It is lower in
pitch, the tones are not clear, there being a distinct under-
tone, the song is more deliberate and the pauses much long-
er; he is very apt, too, to break off into a chatter in the
midst of his song.

The two young vireos of this species, that are pictured
here, were so unfortunate as to be blown from their cradle,
swinging forty feet up in an oak tree, by a very high wind.
They happened to fall without injury and were so good as
to allow us to take their portraits. We also made several of
the mother bird feeding these, but none of them came out
satisfactorily because of the gale that caused tent and
camera to vibrate and nearly blew the feathers off the birds.
It is my only attempt at picturing these birds, but good re-
sults should be secured under favorable circumstances, as
both the young and the adults were very tractable.

California Bush-tit
These little birds rank next to the hummingbirds as being
the smallest birds found in our country. Diminutive as
they are, being but four inches long, half of which length
is comprised in the tail, they fashion beautiful hanging
nests that are bulky enough for birds four times their
size. These purse-shaped nests, constructed of mosses,
lichens, plant fibres and feathers, and with the entrance a
little hole on one side near the top, vary in length from six
to sixteen inches.

190

Fig. 16G. BUSH-TIT AND NEST.

197

Fig. 167. NEST OF BUSH-TIT.

In southern California, the birds are quite common but,
because of their small size are not as apt to be noticed as
are the nests that hang conspicuously from the branches of
many of the oaks. Nimble as our chickadees are, their acro-
batic feats are more than equaled by those of this tiny crea-
ture which delights in whirling about tiny branches or drop-
ping from one to another while upside down.

198

Their diminutive forms and gray color make them very
inconspicuous and their weak voices are not likely to call
attention to them as they industriously search thickets and*
foliage of large trees, ridding them of quantities of little
pests.

Fig. 168. Female Golden-winged Warbler returning to her
nest. She was very tame and I made s negatives of her but un-
fortunately all except this were 'Hight-struck/'

199

THE GLEANERS.

Birds are the natural conservators of our trees. One of
their chief offices is the destruction of insects whose rav-
ages destroy the foliage or eat the very hearts out of our
shade and forest trees.

Chief among the gleaners of the foliage are the warblers

Fig. 169. Black and White Warbler entering its nest.

and vireos; they search the trunks of trees^ peer in all the
crevices and hang from the tips of the slenderest branches,
devouring insect-eggs, worms, caterpillars, larvae and fully
developed flies or moths. I have been very fortunate in be-
ing able to secure photographic histories of a number of
these gleaners.

Black and White Warbler.
Woodpeckers are very expert at climbing up trees;
Nuthatches are equally expert at clambering down. Black

200

201

and Wliite Warblers or Black and White Creepers, as they
were formerly called, are more versatile and agile than
either; they can climb in any position with the greatest of
ease. In this respect, their habits are so different from
most warblers, that early naturalists were inclined to class
them in a separate family.

After hearing the long-drawn, wiry song of a Black and
White Warbler coming from about the same spot for sev-
eral consecutive mornings, I decided to investigate. Climb-
ing over the wall, I went in the direction of his voice and
soon found him climbing nimbly about in a young chestnut
tree in search of his breakfast. Every few moments the
little climber would pause, lift his head and sing out his
unmusical notes. I was not particularly interested in the
male bird at this time, but I knew that somewhere near him
I would find his mate and, that having located her, it would
be a comparatively easy matter to find their nest.

I soon discovered her in a tree beyond her mate, and was
delighted to see that she had a long shred of bark in her
beak. As usual with birds of this species, she was very
careful and wanted to make sure that no one should see her
building the nest. I kept perfectly still for fully fifteen
minutes before she went to its site, which proved to be at
the base, on the opposite side, of the very stump behind
which I was concealed. As these warblers are very apt to
desert a nest if they know it to be discovered, I went quiet-
ly away without even looking at it.

The next time I saw the nest it contained one dainty lit-
tle warbler egg and a larger one of a Cowbird; the latter
egg was removed because it would have either prevented the
warbler from laying her full number of eggs in the nest or
else, when hatched, the young Cowbird would probably have
crowded some of the smaller birds to death. I saw neither
of the warblers on that morning and feared that they might
have already deserted the nest because of the imposition

o'l'O

Fig. 171. She always returned the same way,— down a dead
limb to a tiny twig; dropping from the latter to her doorway.

203

of the Cowbird. A week later I returned and. when at a
distance of about ten feet^ I could see her little bead-like
eyes and black and white striped face. The nest was sunk
among the leaves at the base of the stump and was well
arched over so that it was very difficult to see even when the
exact location was known. She sat perfectly still and I
approached very, very slowly carrying a camera, already

Fig. 172. Four of the five little ones; the other could not be
found.

set on its tripod, before me. I managed to plant it so that
the lens was but three feet from her without causing her to
leave. Then still more slowly, at the same time trying to
reassure her with bird-like chirps (that perhaps did not
sound much like a bird), I leaned forward and removed
some objectionable grasses that were between the lens and
her and finally lifted the arch a trifle so that she could be
seen to better advantage. She was frightened, for she

204

breathed faster than normal but she made no move to get
away and even opened her bill as though to pick my fingers
when I touched the nest.

Her confidence and courage were amazing, considering
that it was the first formal visit I had made. With a small
stop in the lens, I made two pictures of her as she sat on
the nest. As I did not wish to frighten her away, I simply

Fig. 173. / managed to keep two of them on a twig long
enough to get his picture, feeding them; they were so active that
this was almost a hopeless task.

wound my coat and focussing cloth about the tripod legs
and went to another part of the woods, leaving the camera
there. As I had hoped, when I returned an hour later she
had left her nest, which, I now saw, held five eggs, and gone
after food. So I stretched myself on the ground with just
my head and shoulders concealed under the small tent
formed by the covered tripod legs and, with bulb in hand,
awaited her return.

It was a very clear, sunny day in the middle of June.
The sun's ravs were verv warm, in fact I never before rea-

205

lized that they were so red hot. In spite of the discomfort^
I had to laugh as I likened myself to a turkey in the oven;
the worst of it was I was being baked only on one side; 1
could not turn over because my warbler had returned and
was watching me closely before going to the nest. At the
end of about fifteen minutes^ by which time I was "well

Fig. 174. They moved so rapidly that the picture is blurred
although it was made in 1--200 of a second..

done", she got in just the position I wanted and I snapped
the shutter. One such roasting as that was sufficient so I
gathered my outfit and retreated.

It was fortunate that I took the pictures as I did. for
when I next returned with my whole battery of cameras and
tent, I found that I was a day too late. I no sooner touched
the nest than the little black and white fellows slid out in
all directions. I think that, possibly with the exception of
some little Maryland Yellow-throats, they were the liveliest
lot of little birds I have ever handled. I never needed an

106

Fig. 175. The male bird even went into the valise to feed the
little ones. Notice that he is now standing on the edge and one
younp is inside.

"S

assistant as much as I did at just that time. After much
running, dodging and climbing I managed to corral four of
them but I could find no trace of the fifth; its mother had
led it awav and left the father bird to look out for the ones
I had.

If human children would obey their parents as beautiful-
ly as these little birds did, we would have a perfect world.
As soon as I got them perched on a branch he would tell
them to get off, — and off they would go, every one of them,
in four different directions. I did manage to get a few pic-
tures but not the ones that I wanted most to secure. The
male warbler was the most courageous little feathered mite

207

I have ever seen. He was everywhere almost at once, climb-
ing all over my head, shoulders and hands, but never still
for an instant. He pleaded so earnestly for me to let his
little ones go, that I soon turned them loose.
Chestnut-sided Warbler.
Both this species and the Black and White Warbler are
about equally common, but the nests of the Chestnut-side
are much more easily found. The birds are not as careful
to avoid being seen and the nests are above ground so that
they are often found without watching the owner. They
are, however, located usually at the top of low bushes so
they can be seen only below by removing the protecting
leaves from above.

Fig. 176. CHESTNUT-SIDE ON NEST.

208

Fig. 177. 3fale Chestnut-sided' Warbler feeding one of its
young; there are three in the nest but not in sight.

!09

They are among the easiest of birds to photograph while
they are sitting upon the nest. Several times I have remov-
ed leaves from above the bird, put a camera in place and
made photographs without disturbing her; they sometimes
have allowed me also to gently stroke their back^ without
leaving the eggs. They seem to be very popular with that

Fig. 178. I advanced until the lens was within 2 ieet of her
and she half rose from the eggs.

bird-parasite, the Cowbird^ for about twenty-five per cent,
of the nests found contain one or more eggs of this species.

Although Sir Chestnut-side leaves the task of making the
nest almost wholly to his mate^ he takes his turn at sitting
on the eggs and;, in almost every case that I have watched,
does more than his share in feeding the little ones. With
most birds that I have photographed, it has been the female
that returned first after the battery of cameras was trained
on the nest, but with Chestnut-sides it has always been the
male which showed the way.

It was several years before I was able to secure anj pic-
tures of the parent birds feeding their little ones. Nearly

14

210

Fig. 179. She jumped at the click of the shutter.

Fig. 180. FEMALE CHESTNUT-SIDE.

211

Fig. 181.

every nest of this species that I located would be destroyed
in some manner before the eggs hatched or something would
take the little ones while they were very small. The fact
that most of the nests were in a locality where chipmunks
and grackles abounded was perhaps responsible for the
great destruction of eggs and young.

Prairie Warbler.

These beautiful little warblers are very locally distribut-
ed. They nest usually in small colonies, one of which hap-
pens to be on a certain side hill where I have succeeded in
making pictures of a great many species of birds. Each
male seems to have his own little section and also a favorite

212

WARBLER.

21,S

lookout perch; many an exciting chase occurs when the head
of some one household encroaches on the domains of an-
other. A flash of yellow and black is all that can be seen
of the bewildering conflicts as they dash in and out among
the underbrush until one flnally returns to his perch singing
his victory in the peculiar, rasping tones common to this spe-
cies.

Their nests are quite diflicult to And as they are^ almost
without exception^ built at the tops of low shrubs, just where
the leaves are the most dense. As there are hundreds of
bushes perfectly adapted to their needs it requires a long
search to locate a nest, particularly because these warblers
are so very careful not to disclose its hiding place. All my
observations have brought me to the conclusion that Prairie
Warblers are practical jokers; I, at least, have been made
their victim on several occasions.

One day I saw one of the females with a bit of grass in
her bill, so I sat down to watch and find out where she was
going to put it. She knew^ that I had seen her so she chirp-
ed and scolded for a long time, being ably aided by her
mate who appeared by her side at the first note of alarm.
In a few minutes she took the nesting material into the
thick top of a bush and soon flew out again without it. A
few minutes later, the male also carried material to the same
spot followed after awhile by the female with some strips
of bark. I was sure that they must have a nest nearly
completed to be working so industriously, so I went over to
investigate. Imagine my surprise when I found not a
shred of a nest there; they had carried their loads to the
bush and dropped them on the ground apparently for the
very purpose of fooling me. I have had other very similar
experiences with these little warblers.

I show a few pictures obtained at a nest located in a
young walnut tree. It is a typical nest, composed chiefly
of plant fibres, a few grasses and shreds of bark. While

214

Fig. 183. MALE PRAIRIE WARBLER.

15

Fig. 184. FEMALE PRAIRIE WARBLER.

the female was sitting, both she and her mate were watch-
ful. She always left the nest and glided away unseen if
anyone approached. As soon as the eggs had hatched,
the parents lost much of their fear and would feed the lit-
tle birds even while we were watching.

When bringing food, they approached the nest cautious-
ly, keeping near the ground where the swaying of the tops
of the sweet ferns, that formed the lower strata of vegeta-
tion, showed their approach and soon a tremor of the wal-
nut announced that they were almost at the goal. All man-
ner of insects were included in their menu, — ants, aphids,
flies, moths and even repulsive looking little worms such as
one of the illustrations shows the male bird bringing.

216

Fig. 185. XEST OF OVEXBIRD.

Arched over
the eggs.

that one has to stoop low to look under and see

The good fellowship that exists between birds can be
judged by the number that nested in company with the
Prairie Warblers, within a radius of one hundred yards.
They included Indigo Buntings, Towhees, Veeries, Thrash-
ers, Vireos, Black and White and Chestnut-sided Warblers,
Field and Song Sparrows, a Chickadee, Bluebird and Scar-
let Tanger. As a general thing they all lived very peace-
ably with only an occasional tilt that in no w^ays disturbed
the social equilibrum of tlie bird community.

217
The Ovexbird.

In early morning, during spring and smnmer, the wood-
land resounds with the loud^ vibrant songs of Ovenbirds^ —

"teacher-teacher-teacher " repeated many times and

giving the species the local name of "Teacher-bird". It is
also very commonly known as the Golden-crowned Thrush
because it has a dull, orange-yellow stripe on the crown and
because the rest of the coloration is thrush-like. The rea-
son for the name of Ovenbird is rather obscure to the be-
ginner in bird study until he or she has discovered one of
their nests.

One morning, as we approached a pretty bit of woodland,
above the sweet voices of numerous other songsters, we
heard the loud chanting of an Ovenbird. Ere the last
notes of his ditty had been uttered, the song was taken up
and continued by other Ovenbirds in distant parts of the
woods. Usually nests of these birds are found by flushing
the sitting bird, the present instance being the only one
in which I ever discovered the nest of an Ovenbird before
seeing the owner. We had barely entered the woods before
I noticed a slight elevation of the leaves ahead of us. In-
stinctively the thought came to mind that it was a nest; ap-
proaching carefully, we stooped and looked under the arch-
ing top. Greatly disturbed by this undesired curiosity the
owner, an Ovenbird of course, dashed out and from a
branch close at hand scolded us roundly.

It was a fine type of the nest of this species ; the top was
strongly arched over, so much so that the eggs could barely
be seen. Concluding that, as we had discovered the little
oven so easily, others might do the same, we made a picture
of the nest and eggs and then set the camera so as to
get a picture of the returning bird, although the light in
the shady woods was very poor for quick exposures. As
soon as we were concealed within the tent the Ovenbird
ceased her anxious chirping, hopped down on the ground

218

Fig. 186. OVENBIRD RETURNING TO NEST.

and apparently commenced to walk aimlessly about picking
up a bit of food here and there.

The Ovenbird walks, not hops, very daintily; Mr. Ernest
Seton Thompson has very aptly termed the bird "A Pretty
Pedestrian". Every circuit brought her closer to her little
oven-like home, until at last she hopped on a twig just
over the arch, and within the scope of the lens. A sharp
click and one more bird had been photographically shot.
We were fortunate to have taken these pictures as we did,
for two days later a slight hollow in the ground was the

219

only sign of where the nest had been. Whether its disap-
pearance was due to a two or a four-footed animal could
not be surmised as red squirrels were abundant in the woods
and people were constantly crossing.

The finding of another nest, a few days later, yielded
one more picture of an Ovenbird just entering her "oven".

Fig. 187. OVEXBIRD EXTERLXG NEST.

This nest too was destroyed, presumably by chipmunks, be-
fore the eggs had hatched.

Yellow Warbler.

The Yellow Warbler or "Summer Yellowbird" is a beau-
tiful, little, golden sprite that we are sure to find flitting
about in clumps of willows or alders that overhang almost
any brook. We often find them, too, in orchards for they
take very kindly to civilization. Its song is a simple little
ditty, "cher-wee, cher-wee, swee- swee", very similar to that
of the Chestnut-sided Warbler and the Redstart.

Yellow Warblers weave very pretty little homes of plant

'J 'JO

Fig. 188. NEST OF YELLOW WARBLER.

fibres in crotches of bushes, not very high above ground.
One of the most beautiful nests that I ever have seen was
made by a pair of these birds. It was located neir a cot-
ton mill and the outside of the nests was composed entirely
of snow-white cotton, the inside being lined with the usual
horsehair.

221

As far as mv observations go, these warblers seem to be
imposed on by Cowbirds more than any other unless it be
the Chestnut-sided. The percentage of nests containing
these obnoxious eggs is quite large and the resulting mor-
tality due to the over-crowding of the nest, is also quite
large among the little Yellow Warblers.

Fig. 189. NEST OF KINGFISHER.

222

O

o

m

H

o

P

223

FISHER-BIRDS.

Belted Kingfisher.

One June day, a friend, while roaming about on the edge
of some woods, suddenly felt the earth giving way beneath
his feet and sprang to one side just in time, as he soon dis-
covered, to avoid crushing a family of young kingfishers.
Probably the old birds had misjudged the thickness of the
earth and made the roof of their house too high, for exam-
ination showed that less than half an inch of earth separat-
ed the chamber from the outer world.

My friend was very enthusiastic in his description of how
handsome the little fellows were and it took little urging to
induce me to accompany him to the scene the next day. I
found that he had repaired the break in their home by plac-
ing a large flat stone over it, so that the place was much
more secure than before it had been broken into. The en-
trance to the home, that is the proper one, was located in
the side of a gravel pit about six feet from the chamber
where the little kingfishers lay. We decided, before open-
ing the nest again, to try and get a few views of the adult
entering; as there were several roots projecting from the
earth within a few inches of the opening, I expected that
the birds would alight on one of these before entering.

The camera was placed on a rock five feet from the open-
ing, and carefully covered ; the shutter was to be operated
with a thread running to a clump of bushes about twenty
yards distant. A few minutes after we had comfortably
seated oureslves in our ambush, a warning rattle was heard
from the bed of the brook, to be repeated a moment later
from close at hand. Guided by the sound, we soon located
the mother kingfisher perched on the lower limb of an oak
and, as we had expected, she held a small fish in her beak.

She had not seen us come and was apparently very much
surprised to find a new, curious, bulky object (the camera)
so near her home. Surelv this had not been there when

224

Z

225

she came last. She watched it long and very closely, ner-
vously flirting her tail j ust as sandpipers are wont to do. At
least once she changed the position of the fish she carried
hy tossing it a few inches in the air and catching it again.
Having satisfied herself that the camera was not alive, after
a great deal of scolding, she flew directly to the entrance

Fig. 191. The hank cut away to show the little ''fishers^' at
the end of the tunnel.

to her home ; greatly to my surprise, she alighted neither on
the roots nor on the edge of the hole, but seemed to dash
right in without a pause. Her departure was almost as
rapid; she backed out the length of the tunnel and, just
as her tail appeared at the opening, whirled about and was
off in a flash.

During half a dozen visits that she made, she entered
and left in the same manner ; as I was not prepared to make
moving pictures, the best I could do was to "get her" back-
ing out, just as she started to turn about. The bird shown

15

226

in one of the illustrations, with a mullet in its bill, was
more considerate for she lit on a stick thrust into the bank
for that purpose and allowed Mr. R. H. Beebe to take sev-
eral pictures of her.

Young kingfishers are very comical birds both in appear-
ance and in actions. At an early aaje, thev are entirely cov-

Fig. 192. Little Kingfishers are very '^spiney^^ orpin-feath-
ery during the early stages of their life.

ered with coarse pin-feathers, giving them a bristly appear-
ance like little porcupines. They remain in the nest about
three weeks at the end of which time they closely resemble
their parents in plumage. Although six or seven of them have
to occupy rather cramped quarters in their home, it does not
seem to develop brotherly love to any great extent. They
always seem to be biting at one another. On one occasion
when I had seven of them side by side on a rail, a youngster
on one end grabbed the fellow next to him by the wing;
this one seized the next and so on along the whole row, the
seven of them finally going to the ground in a connected
tangle. Undoubtedly, their rough actions hasten their de-

227

velopment by bursting the casing of the pin-feathers sooner
than they would unaided, and it may be that this is the
purpose of their roughness.

The tunnel that leads to the nest is just large enough for
one bird and gives him no room to turn around. When the
young get so they can walk, even though clumsily, they
often meet their parent at the door way, — at least one does.

Fig. 193. SEVEN LITTLE KINGS.

with the others crowding in a line behind. Before feeding
even the first one, the parent will usually force them all
back into the enlarged chamber. This walking in single
file, usually in step, forward and backward often gets
them into the habit of moving in unison when they are re-
moved from the nest. It is a most comical sight to see
seven, frizzly-headed birds deliberately take three or four
steps forward, backward or sidewise, as the case may be, in

228

Fig. 195. They often grabbed and hit at one another.

perfect lock step as though controlled by one mind or
master.

Little kingfishers do not seem to know fear until after
they have made their first flight. Housed in as they are, they
have no chance to see what goes on in the outer world and,
if a man happens along, takes them out of their nest and
groups them on a rock or branch, they take it just as a mat-
ter of course, as though it were something that ought to hap-
pen. After they have made their maiden flight, however,
they object to being handled and will sometimes bite sav-
agely.

Their parents feed them for more than a week after they
leave the nest, but all the time their wings are getting
stronger and stronger so that soon they can hover over the
water and pounce on little fish, just as their parents do.

230

The food of kingfishers consists wholly of small fish up
to four inches in length. They are very persistent in their
fishing, as much so as the man that often sits with his line
dangling in the water for several hours without getting a
bite. I once watched one of these birds, that happened to

Fig. 196. A HANDSOME FAMILY.

be perched where I could see it from my blind as I was
taking pictures at a Vireo nest, and for two hours it sat per-
fectly still, watching the water below it, before it got a
chance to plunge and then it missed the fish. However, they
make a very fair percentage of successful strikes, always
catching their prey between the opened mandibles.

231

Osprey; Fish Hawk.

The Osprey is probably the most widely distributed of all
birds ; it is found at the proper season in nearly every coun-
try on the globe. It is a very inoffensive bird^ living ex-
clusively upon a fish diet. While essentially a salt water
bird it is often found about the larger lakes^ especially
during migrations.

Ospreys are strongly protected both by law and public
sentiment in most places where they are common and breed
but as soon as they wander from their regular abiding
places they put their lives in jeopardy for uneducated farm-
ers consider all large birds as "hen-hawks" and certain
classes of hunters take a shot at everything of size that
comes within range.

The same birds return to the same breeding grounds^, and
to the same nests^ each year. The nests are normallj^ placed
among the upper branches of dead trees; they are large
structures when first built and, as they are used and added
to each succeeding year, they soon become very bulky; I
have seen a number that would more than fill an ordinary
tip-cart. Osprej^ ^ggs are usually regarded as the most
beautifully marked of all hawks. — a rich, creamy ground
color^ covered with bright blotches of reddish-brown and
umber.

It is very interesting to watch Ospreys at their fishing
groundS;, — to see them sailing smoothly along on motionless
pinions or wending their way homeward with a steady flap-
ping,* bearing their catch to waiting, little Ospreys. When
on the lookout for fish, they usually sweep along at an ele-
vation of perhaps one hundred feet above water. As soon
as one is sighted in a favorable position, the Osprey hovers
for a few moments, with wings rapidly beating the air and,
if his quarry does not take alarm, quickly folds his wings

232

m
o ^

5 ^

C/2 so

o .-^

2S3

Fig. 198. BOTH BIRDS CIRCLED OVERHEAD.

and shoots downward^ headfirst; just before striking ciic
water, the long legs are thrown forward so that the sharp
talons reach even in front of his head;, — he accomplishes the
remarkable feat of diving into the water both headfirst and
feet-first at one and the same time. The average success
of Fish Hawks at their trade, seems to be about one catch
to three misses. They will catch any kind of fish that
swim near the surface, — fish weighing, usually, from a half
pound to two or three pounds.

234

Fig. 199. OSPREY LEAVING NEST

235

Twice in one day, I witnessed a scene in bird-dom that is
rarely observed, — that of an eagle pursuing an Osprey.
This act was first noted by Audubon and has been copied
widely from his writings, but few have had the opportunity
of actually seeing it. Near Lynnhaven Inlet on the coast
of Virginia, Bald Eagles were very plentiful as also were
Ospreys. The latter caught most of their fish out of the
nets that were set at frequent intervals by fishermen. The
eagles fed largely upon dead fish that washed ashore, the
same as did the ouzzards. but often they^ too. went fishing
in the weirs.

I had located an Osprey nest^ containing youngs about
two hundred yards fiom the beach; standing at the foot of
this tree I could, at one time, count sixteen eagles in sight.
To decide whether the Ospreys and eagles were on friendly
terms, I spent the greater part of a day watching them.
Unfortunately, as it was a ten mile walk from my stopping-
place, I did not have my graflex with me.

One of the Ospreys. bearing a fish in its talons, came to
the nest about every half hour. Although several eagles
were perched on some of the dead trees, which were half
covered by the drifting sands, within a hundred yards of
the nest, they did not attempt to molest the smaller bird ex-
cept in two instances; they did, however, all watch the in-
coming hawks with the greatest of interest.

On one occasion, perhaps in a spirit of bravado for,
with food so plenty, there was no excuse for marauding, a
young, very dark. Bald Eagle, uttering a single shrill whis-
tle, flew to meet a returning Osprey. Evidently the same
thing had happened before for the hawk immediately
wheeled and started mounting skyward, uttering piercing,
tremulous screams. With only an occasional flap of his
huge wings, the eagle closely followed, ascending in wide
spirals until both were nearly lost to view, even when view-
ed with powerful binoculars. I should judge that they were

236

%-

Fig. 200. ABOUT TO ALIGHT.

237

fully two miles up when the hawk released his prey, — so
high that I could not see what happened, but the eagle came
swooping grandly to the perch he had left, bearing the
prize, while the poor Osprey went out to the weirs for an-
other one. Undoubtedly stolen fish tasted much sweeter to
the eagle than if he had captured it himself, even though the
latter course would have required but a fractional part of
the energy he expended in mounting to the clouds.

On another occasion the same thing happened, but the
Osprey released his prey before he had ascended half a
mile, the eagle lazily reaching out one leg and grasping it
as it fell past him. Eagles have wonderful control of them-
selves when in the air. I have seen one. that was attacked
by crows from above it, repeatedly turn completely over in
midair and present his talons toward his tormentors.

Ospreys nest not only in dead trees but on cliffs, on the
ground, on the cross arms of telegraph poles and even on
unused chimneys.

238

Fig. 2U1. NEST OF SPOTTED SANDPIPER.

Sandpiper eggs are very handsome,— gray buff, blotched and
specked with blackish-brown.

239

MY SANDPIPER FRIENDS.

Wc were destined to become friends. For years, as long
ago as I can remember, these Spotted Sandpipers, or some
of their ancestors, had frequented the shores of a tiny pond
and had, each year, built their nests in some of the border-
ing fields. Likewise, as far back as my memory takes me,
the fields surrounding this same little pond were included in
one of my favorite and most frequent rambles. Each year,
the first week in May, I have welcomed my sandpiper

Fig. 202. RETURNING TO HER NEST.

240

241

friends on their return from the sunny south, have listened
to their fife-like notes as they chased one another about, or
have watched them skimming across the pond with the pecu-
liar, tremulous flutter of the down-curved wings, character-
istic of sandpipers.

By the end of May, they cease their play and settle down
to business. Having selected a suitable spot, the female
builds a nest, — not a very strenuous task, for she simply
squats in the grass and turns around a few times, thus form-
ing a hollow of the correct shape. Sometimes she will wind
a few grasses around the hollow but often she does not do
even that much.

One morning as I passed through a clearing in some
small pines near the pond, a bird fluttered from nearly
under my feet. A glance proved it to be a Spotted Sand-
piper and another glance showed me that I had nearly trod
upon the four eggs upon which she had been sitting. She
tried her best to lead me away; apparently she was very
severely wounded for she limped with one leg, both wings
dragged on the ground and, every few steps, she would fall
over as though exhausted. It was a very fine piece of act-
ing and would deceive anyone not accustomed to it (still
men who profess to be scientists say that birds and mam-
mals have no intelligence ; personally I believe that many
birds and many mammals have a higher degree of intelli
gence than some of those who claim everything is done by
instinct or imitation).

Although I had found a great many nests of these birds,
I was glad to locate this because I had never made photo-
graphs of them and this nest offered an excellent opportun-
ity to do so. The eggs were handsomely marked, as is
usual with those of this species; they had little to conceal
them from view, except their coloration, which harmonized
so well with the surroundings that, at ten feet distance it
was almost impossible to pick them out.

16

242

Fig. 204. She sat there as calmly as if I were miles away^
though I could have reached out and touched her.

243

As I have said, this nest was in a cleiring where there
was not a particle of shelter^ not even a spear of grass to
keep the sun's rays off at any time during the day. On ex-
ceedingly warm days^ I used often to think of this bird^ sit-
ting there, panting, but faithful to her charges. Even
worse to endure than the sun, was the rain. At that time,
there occurred four days of the heaviest rainfall we had
ever experienced and I was very doubtful about her being-
able to stand it. However, when the sun shone on the morn-
ing of the fifth day, she slipped away from the nest, upon
my approach, none the worse for her drenching. Only one
w^ho has been caught in the fields or woods, far from shel-
ter,, in a driving rain, can appreciate the hardships that
birds have to undergo at such times.

Early one morning, I appeared with all my paraphernalia
for picture making. She slid off the eggs as usual and flew
down to the pond; she knew from experience that I would
not be deceived so she never now tried to feign lameness.
Just for an experiment, one morning later, I had a friend
approach the nest first and she tried her best to decoy him
away. Certainly this showed at least a ray of intelligence
for, while she knew that I was aw^are of her nest and rea-
soned that it would be useless to try and deceive me, she
tried it with everyone else.

I used a green umbrella-tent placed so that the front edge
was about two feet from the eggs. This was covered with
small pine branches, not to deceive the bird, but so as not to
attract much notice should anyone come that way, as they
frequently did. I soon had a camera focussed carefully on
the eggs and was lying comfortably on the ground awaiting
the return of my hostess. Presently I heard her approach-
ing, her calls sounding plainer and plainer each time they
were repeated. Finally she stood on a stone about twentj^
feet away, 'teetering' as sandpipers always do, and eying
sharply the new addition to the landscape.

244

Everything was perfectly still and there seemed to be
no signs of life about, so she stepped from her elevation
and approached, slowly, uncertainly and with many pauses
to look anxiously about her. She made a complete circuit
of the tent three times, often brushing against its sides and
passing within six inches of the small peek-hole through
which I was breathlessly watching. Finally she stopped

Fig. 205. She stepped carefully between the eggs and settled
dmvn.

245

Fig. 206. She kept a sharp watch of the great glass eyes that
stared so steadily at her, only three feet away.

at her nest, gently touched one of the eggs with her bill and
then, suddenly catching sight of the great camera-eye star-
ing at her, quickly jumped back. Approaching even more
cautiously, she ran right across the eggs and whirled about
quickly to see if anything happened. The next time she
fondled all the eggs and at last was contentedly settled up-
on them.

The click of the shutter the first few exposures, startled
her a trifle but she very quickly got accustomed to it and
paid no attention to the tent or anything that went on within

246

Fig. 207. From time to time she half arose and carefully
treaded the eggs over.

it. I even opened a large flap in the front of the tent,
stuck my head out and watched her from a distance of less
than twenty-four inches, without frightening her off the
nest. I often wondered w^hat she thought of the new con-
ditions and what wonderful tales she told her mate when
she joined him at the edge of the pond. I think she must
have concluded that I was harmless, had built a large green
nest near hers and was as much entitled to live there as she

Invariably when returning to the nest, after a short ab-
sence, she would feel of the eggs with her bill, carefully

2 to

but she always avoided him and led him further away from
her nest. Finally she flew away to the pond leaving him
in bewilderment. I do not know what he would have done,
could he have caught her but I do know what would have
happened if he had found her four eggs. I have seen
many bird homes broken up by gray squirrels and more by
the smaller red variety. In order to prevent any further ex-
ploration on his part;, I left the tent and chased him from
the grove, an easy matter since I could shake him out of any
pine he climbed.

Quite often, as she sat upon the nest, she would answer
the male birds as they called to one another or to their
mates, from the pond. It sounded alarmingly loud and
clear to hear her call, at such a short distance. Just once I
heard her give a low series of whistles, or rather warbles ;
she was probably so happy that she was singing to herself,
unaware that she had an appreciative audience.

Several times, the male bird came up to the edge of the
clearing and conversed with her by means of low "pipings",
but he never came to the nest, and I do not think he ever
sat upon the eggs; at least, the bird that I saw always ap-
peared to be the same one. One morning I found only a
few small pieces of egg shell. Her little ones were born
during the night and, somewhere in the fields, she was lead-
ing them about. The little ones are born covered with a soft
gray and white down, marked with a few black stripes.
They can run very fast and will hide themselves most ef-
fectively at a warning "pipe" from their mother.

250

Fig. 209. NESTING-TREE OF DOWNY AND WRdEN.

251

THE WOODLAND APARTMENT.

The woodland apartment was accidentally discovered be-
cause of a feud existing between two of the families re-
siding therein. One bright June morning I started on one
ot my frequent camera-hunting expeditions, mv objective
point being the home of a pair of Wood Thrush;^s that had
kindly placed their nest in a very favorable position in some
alders overhanging a beautiful brook. I was forcing my
way slowly through a tangled mass of brakes and briers
when a short distance away, I heard the clear, ringing,
rollicking song of a House Wren. It was the same wren-
song with which I was familiar, full of those bubbling
gurgling tones, but t stopped abruptly in the middle In
a few moments it sounded again and again the song was

-mm

Figg 210-211 The wren would alight on the stumv and com-
mence to sing; Downy would promptly drive him off.

Fig. 212. NEST OF DOWNY.
Opening made to show the eggs.

253

terminated in the same way. "Well," thought I, " that is
strange ! What can be troubling the little fellow. I surely
must look into this".

Just beyond the fringe of the woods was a fallen apple
tree^ its trunk lying prone upon the ground but with several

Figs. 213, 214, 215. SOME VIEWS AT THE NEST HOLE.

gaunt grayed branches pointing upward. On the tip of one
of these was Sir Wren. At the very moment that I sighted
him, he lifted his head, swelled his throat and the liquid
notes just trickled through his vibrating mandibles; almost
at the same instant a gleam of black and white flashed
through the air and he dodged just in time to escape the
savage rush of a Downy Woodpecker. Alighting on another
stump, the wren again burst into song, only to be pursued
by the Downy as before.

Downy Woodpeckers are usually peaceable birds. But
one thing could cause the strange actions of this one, — a
nest. Sure enough, about half way up in the larger of the

254-

Fig. 216. The plumage of the female uas rough and worn.

255

erect stubs was a little round hole, — the entrance to the
Downy home. Why should the wren so persistently stay in
this dead tree when the woodpecker was striving so fiercely
to drive him away? Again the answer revealed itself; lower
down in a shorter limb was another hole, — the wren home.
Fitting a long-focus lens to the graflex I made a view of

Fig. 217. The four little woodpeckers looked little different
from their parents.

the wren just as he commenced his song and also one of
the woodpecker just after he had charged.

Investigation showed that Downy already had five,
glossy, white eggs reposing on the bare wood floor of his
house. The wrens probably had arrived that very morning
for they were just commencing work on their home. Con-
sidering the quiet domestic life that these woodpeckers are
wont to lead, it is little wonder that they objected to the
presence of the boisterous and inquisitive pair of wrens.
They thought, correctly, that the continual song would sure-

256

Fig/218. The plumage of the male was always sleek.

257

ly betray the hiding place of the one spot most dear to them.
Downy took upon himself the task of driving away the un-
welcome neighbors. His persistence was commendable but
the lack of good generalship on his part, rendered his ef-
forts futile. Instead of devoting his energies to preventing
the building of their nest, he chased the male bird every
time it started to sing. The little wren seemed to regard
this as a sort of bird-play and, apparently, greatly enjoyed

Fig. 219.
the young.

The adult female (on the left) about to feed one ot

it; with just a short break in his song he kept dodging and
flying back and forth singing louder and louder as the
chase grew warmer.

Meanwhile the female wren was just as busy as she could
be, carrying in small twigs, grasses and feathers; she was
so very industrious that the nest was wholly completed the
first day.

Angry "chucks" proceeding from under the fallen trunk
soon attracted attention to another tenant in this woodland
apartment. A hole in the ground at the base of the stump
showed where a Chipmunk had taken refuge and his sharp,
muffled voice showed that he did not approve of

IL

258

Fig. 220. The little woodpeckers were not in the least afraid.

259

Fig. 221. One of them was very modest and tried to back
down out of sight.

the intrusion. A closer inspection of Downy's nest brought
to my attention a fourth family occupying the top flat. A
small colony of wood-boring bees had taken possession of
the decayed interior of the limb about two feet above the
entrance to the w^oodpecker nest. A number of small holes
furnished the doors to this apartment; from these doors,
from time to time^ came tiny clouds of dust resembling
smoke^ showing that the occupants were still at work with
their excavating.

Never did apartment block have more congenial surround-

260

Fig. 222. Little Dounies can climb well too.

ings. the field-lawn was gaily decked with moon-faced
daisies and golden buttercups. On one side was a large
swamp, its spagnum moss-covered floor studded here and
there with the rosette-like pitcher plants with deep red
flowers nodding on slender stalks above the half-filled leaf
pitchers that lure and destroy many insects. The humming
of the bees, as they bumbled about the spotted, orange cor-
nucopias of the jewel weed, suspended from under the
leaves of the rank-growing plants that fringed the swamp,
made an accompaniment to the sweet songs of Wood
Thrushes.

261

Fig. 223. MALE HOUSE WREN.
This is ^'Jack^^ as we soon got in the habit of calling him.

262

On the other side the hand of man manifested itself in
two shining ribbons of steel, stretching away into the dis-
tance along which thundered the sixty-mile-an-hour express
and the slow, lumbering freights, not near enough to the
apartment to be objectionable but just right to break the
monotony of song and trees and flowers.

Fig. 224. JACK BRINGS A SPIDER.

Ten days later the wren nest contained seven finely
speckled treasures and the pair of woodpeckers were very
busy trying to satisfy the unending appetites of five little
woodpeckers. Both male and female Downy would enter
and leave the nest without regard to us, even though we
were nearly within arm's reach of them. Consequently
we had no difficulty in securing a large series of photo-

263

Fig. 225. Her plumage was not as smooth as JacWs, — per-
haps because she worked harder.

graphs. Downy's plumage was always clean and neat but
that of his mate was quite worn and soiled, probably be-
cause she had been obliged to do nearly all of the work be-
fore the appearance of their little ones.

The adults made alternate trips with food about every
five minutes, one often remaining in the nest until the other
arrived. Usually they brought but a single grub at a time,
but occasionally one of them would make a "lucky strike"
and bring a whole mouthful. This nest was visited nearly
every morning in order to keep tabs on the growth of the
youngsters ; the older they got, the noiser they were, making
loud whining sounds when they were being fed.

One morning I found one of them clinging to the outside
of the trunk and the rest crowded about the small entrance.

264

Fig. 226. Jack brought a wasp,— minus wings and legs.

They were tired of their cramped quarters and were about to
explore the outside world. As we approached, they all
scrambled out and commenced climbing up the trunk. We
brought them down to a horizontal limb, but they were very
restless; they had an idea that they were large enough to
fly and wanted to try it right away. Two of them were
quite bashful; every time we tried to focus the camera on
them they would slide down the back side of the limb to
get out of the view.

265

Fig. 227.

Finally, as my father was trying to straighten them out,
they all scrambled on his sleeve and, one by one, climbed to
his shoulder from which elevation they made their maiden
flights to the woods beyond.

Meanwhile the wren eggs had also hatched and the male
bird was happier than ever. So closely did his songs follow
one another that it almost seemed as though a tiny, repeat-
ing phonograph must be concealed in his throat. We had
visited the woodland apartment so frequently that neither
of the wrens paid any attention to us. In fact we had ^ome
to know them as Jack and Jenny respectively. Like that
of the male woodpecker, Jack's plumage was always sleek
and orderly; also similarly and for the same reasons, that
of his mate was worn, one tail feather was gone and another
shorter than it ought to have been. We made pictures of

266

Fig. 228, 229. Jack assumed various poses.

them in all positions, head down^ head up. bringing loads
of plant lice, spiders, wasps, small grasshoppers and many
other kinds of insects.

Jack devoted so much of his time to singing that his mate
brought fully twice as many loads of food as he did. It was
really amusing to see him sometimes try to sing when he had
his beak filled to overflowing with insects; he could get in
all the gurgling notes but he had to omit many of those
that called for a rapid motion of the bills.

As in the case with the woodpecker, we happened to visit
them on the morning the little wrens were to say goodbye
to their home, but the results we obtained were entirely dif-
ferent. As soon as I touched the stump it seemed as though
I had pulled the trigger of a gun, for the stump imme-
diately belched forth little wrens. I clapped my hand over
the opening but they poured out through my fingers and

267

seven of the little fellows went scuttling away through the
grass as fast as their wings and legs could carry them. Try
as we would, we could not get more than four of them at a
time and we could not persuade even one of those to sit still
and look respectable while we made a portrait of him.

Fig. 230. YOUNG HOUSE WREXS.

We did not disturb the remaining tenant and I am sure
that the chipmunks were delighted to see us take our final
departure. They probably also was glad to see the birds
go for they were not on friendly terms with one another.
Chipmunks have the unfortunate habit of sometimes tak-
ing birds' eggs from their nests, a habit that forces birds
to try and drive them away from the immediate vicinity of
their homes. Whenever, therefore, Mr. Chipmunk appear-
ed on the stump or tree trunk, either the Downy or wren
was pretty sure to dash at him. He could easily escape the
onslaughts of Downy by dodging around the limb, but the

268

Fig. 231. This was an inexperienced wren; she always found
it difficult to get long twigs in the small door.

wren was even more agile than he and would put him to
flight every time.

Downy did not like the colony of bees either; often I had
seen him hitch around the tree trunk when they buzzed
about his head. A number of times, too, I saw him spring
up and catch one in his beak and carry it to his little ones.
I think it quite probable that he may have exterminated the
whole colony in this way before he left, — at any rate I did
not notice them afterwards.

269

Fig. 232. AN ARTISTIC WREN HOME.

TO

Fig. 233. NEST OF CAROLINA WREX

The bia Carolina Wren is not at all particular in ''^Q^l^J^
n^Phiy^sit^buAlding in holloiv trees or anywhere aboiU houses.

271
FEATHERED TYRANTS.

Kingbirds.

How well the name applies to these birds ! Kings by
name, kings by nature and^ if we may consider the concealed
orange patch on the top of their heads as a crown, kings in
raiment. Although they are usually called tyrannical and
despotic in manner, it will be noticed that they very seldom
quarrel with birds smaller than themselves^ but confine their
attacks chiefly to predacious birds. By driving away
grackles, jays and squirrels. Kingbirds perform an invalua-
ble service to all their orchard friends. And their attacks
upon hawks often relieve the farmer of any anxieties in

Fig. 234. One of their favorite lookout perches was a dried
mullein stalk.

272

Fig. 235. NEST OF KINGBIRD.

regard to his chickens, although few of the hawks touch
poultry in summer: ,

The sight of a bird of prey is to a Kmgb.rd, like a red
flag flaunted before a bull. He immediately f.^^sm pur-
suit, get aboye the larger bird and keeps dash.ng down at
it. It Is strange fact that hawks or crows neyer attempt to
defend themsehes but will exert themsehes to the utmost
to escape from the torment.

273

Fig. 236. An unusual site; their nests are usually among
the smaller outer branches of trees.

18

274

Fig. 237. INSPECTION.

Although Kingbirds are commonly found about man's
habitations, they have their likes and dislikes; every stranger
is considered as an enemy until he has proved otherwise.
The notes of Kingbirds are loud, sharp, metallic "tsee" 's,
that have a disagreeable sound and carry too far for the
comfort of any person who has no business in an orchard.

A pair of Kingbirds, I believe the same ones each season,
returned every year to a certain orchard. As they had seen
me pass through their domains so often, I thought that per-
haps they might prove friendly with me and my camera,
so I started to visit them one morning, armed photographic-

275

Fig.238. THREE LITTLE KINGS.

ally. As I approached the orchard they came out to meet
me^ not with words of welcome^ but with their usual pene-
trating notes of warning. When I paused beneath their
nest they became so vociferous that they put the whole
orchard population into a panic; Robins, Bluebirds, Chip-
ping and Song Sparrows, Orioles, House Wrens and a pair
of Tree Swallows, swarmed about me all giving their var-
ious notes of distress and alarm. It required but a few
minutes of this noise to bring forth the farmer to investi-
gate.

276

Fig. 239.

I first made peace with the owner of the orchard and then
tried to do the same with the birds^ the latter being a much
more difficult matter. It required visits of an hours duration
on six different days before the Kingbirds had sufficient con-
fidence to return and feed their young while I was con-
cealed in the tree.

Kingbird nests are quite large affairs of rootlets, grasses,
gray fibres^ string, paper, etc. Their four or five cream-
colored eggs are very handsomely spotted with reddish-
brown. Their food consists almost wholly of insects that
are caught in the air. The birds have their favorite look-

277

out perches and, so keen is their sight, that they will note
passing insects at a distance of fifty yards and dash out to
seize them, — a loud snapping of the mandibles testifying
to their success and of the demise of another insect.

Many winged insects enter into their bill-of-fare. Large
grasshoppers, dragonflies, cicadas, etc., are favorites and
are even fed to the little kingbirds while in the nest.

Figs. 240, 241 She fed them
dragon-flies, etc.

spiders, millers, small ivasps.

Arkansas Kingbird.

The Western or Arkansas Kingbird is a very different
bird from our eastern one in appearance. Its underparts,
instead of being white, are yellowish and the back is gray
instead of being slate-colored. This species is common west
of the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Neither
their natures nor their nesting habits differ materially from
those of our common bird. The one shown in the illustra-
tion chose an eave-through in which to place her home; it
certainly was on a secure foundation but she failed to reckon
on the sun that was to shine on the nest for about eight

278

L

279

Fig. 243. Too big for the nest, they clambered out on\the
limbs.

hours of every pleasant day. She had fro pay dearly for
her lack of foresight, by standing over and shading her
little ones during the greater part of each day.

Other Kingbirds, both the common and the western varie-
ties, have been known to make their homes in bushes, on
the tops of fence posts and even among the large branches
that form the bulk of Osprey nests.

Rocky Mountain Jay.
This is a sub-species of, and quite similar in appearance
to, the Canada Jay commonly found in the northern tier
of states and in Canada. No bird is better known to the
lumbermen, trappers and hunters along our northern bor-
ders than the Canada Jay. It is seldom, however, that it is
known by this name, — being called locally "Moose Bird,"
"Camp-robber," "Whiskey Jack" (a corruption of the In-
dian name "Wis-ka-tjon"), and many others usually indica-
tive of some of their bad traits.

280

Fig. 244. ARKANSAS KINGBIRD.

A handsome western species,— gray above and pale yellow he-
low.

281

Fig. 245. ROCKY MOUNTAIN JAY.

The habits of these birds are very similar to those of our
Blue Jay but they are ever so much bolder, in fact they
seem to be devoid of fear for man. During the summer
months they are very, very destructive to small bird life; a
single pair has been known to devour the young from four
Junco nests in a single day.

282

Fig. 245. This jay is one of the boldest, most inquisitive and
most destructive birds known.

283

Their habits and their familiarity with mankind can be
judged from the following from "The American Field."
Anyone familiar with Canada Jays can vouch for its truth.
"He will eat anything from soap to plug tobacco. His ap-
petite and capacity to store away food is beyond belief.
One day we had a dozen large salmon trout hung up to dry,
but being absent from camp for a few hours we returned to
find four Whiskey Jacks had totally annihilated our fish.
They would fly off with pieces half a large as themselves
and in a few minutes return for more. I have fed them
small bits until they could hardly fly enough to get to a tree.
Our pork, soap, tobacco and other provisions were unsafe
in their sight and reach. Our Indians used to say: 'Him
eat moccasins, fur cap, matches, anytink'."

In regard to the white-headed Rocky Mountain Jay, Mr.
Frank M. Drew says: "In autumn, when on his first tour
of inspection about the house, he hops along in a curious
sidelong manner, just like a schoolgirl in a slow hurry.
White-headed, grave and sedate, he seems a very paragon of
propriety, and if you appear to be a suitable personage, he
will be apt to give you a bit of advice. Becoming confi-
dential, he sputters out a lot of nonsense in a manner which
causes you to think him a veritable 'Whiskey Jack;' yet
when he is so disposed, a more bland, mind-his-own-business
appearing bird will be hard to find, as will also be many
small articles around camp after one of his visits, for his
whimsical brain has a great fancy for anything which may
be valuable to you but perfectly useless to him."

While everyone admits the great havoc wrought by these
jays, their very impudence, boldness and audacity are so
interesting and often amusing that nobody has the desire
to kill them.

281

Fig. 246. NEST OF LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
Six grayish-white eggs, spotted with yellowish-brown,

285

Loggerhead Shrike
I. E. Hess.

Perched on the topmost twig of an osage-orange tree, his
gray suit and rounded form silouetted against the leaden
March sky, we see the first Loggerhead of the season. He
is one of the earlier spring arrivals, being preceded only
by the Robin, Bluebird, Grackle and Song Sparrow.

Totally ignoring the bleak north winds, and the gloomy

Fig. 247. ADULT SHRIKE ON NEST.

286

Fig. 248. The male brings a small caterpillar to the newly-
hatched youny.

287

Fig. 249. The male often stood on guard while his mate ivas
on the nest.

threatening clouds, he sounds his call notes merrily. This
is his early spring song and how different it is from his
harsh and discordant notes of the previous autumn. His
bell-like calls are now far from unpleasant to our ears and
we rejoice in the vocal improvement he has made.

The Northern Shrike, cousin "borealis," is an accomplish-
ed songster, — a veritable mocking bird of the northland and
although we conceded him the palm upon the first hearing,
we are none the less proud of our own Loggerhead for the
two clear, sweet notes he is capable of producing. The
Loggerhead arrives about the middle of Marcli, the males
preceding the females by but a few days.

288

Fig. 250. Almost old enough to leave home.

289

When Mrs. Loggerhead arrives no time is lost in com-
mencing a new home, which is usually near where last year's
domicile was located. Great energy is at first displayed,
but later considerable dallying is noticed and often two or
three weeks are required in which to complete the new home.
It is a worthy structure, however, in its finished state, and,
like the scriptural house that was founded on a rock, is able
to withstand the March winds that come and the April floods
that are sure to descend upon it. The foundation is of
sticks and thorny twigs, laced and interlaced with root-
lets, grasses and strings. The deep and beautifully rounded
inner-nest is thickly and softly lined with the fur of small
animals and with feathers. The waving feathers give it an
appearance of warmth and comfort and it certainly proves
an attractive and well-loved place, for its owners are sel-
dom found at any distance from it.

A ride along our country roads during the first week in
April will disclose many shrike nests in the process of con-
struction. They are easily observed at this season, for it is
a full month before the leafing of the hedges, and tiiis ren-
ders them very conspicuous. This fact is in marked contrast
with the nesting habits of birds in general, the great ma-
jority of which depend upon the dense foliage to hide their
treasures from curious eyes. Except in occasional instances,
however, the conspicuity of shrike nests, does not prove det-
rimental to their safety, for only by extremely hard labor
and an absolute indifference to thorns, can one and its con-
tents be examined. The nests are placed in the thorniest
and most impenetrable parts of the hedge-rows and usually
just out of reach from the ground.

From the observations of several years during which hun-
dreds of shrike nests have been examined, I would estimate
that a line drawn horizontally seven feet six inches from
the ground, would pass through a majority of them, while

19

i

bo

291

perhaps ninety per cent, would be included between two
parallel lines six and eight feet respectively above ground.
This is certainly a noteworthy characteristic of his habits
and represents the acumen of generations of shrike experi-
ence.

A foot or more higher and the cosily-lined home would be
buffeted about by the fierce spring winds, perhaps with dis-
astrous results. A foot or so lower would bring them within
the limits of the curiosity and mercy of the country lad, the
former trait of whom is unlimited and the latter seldom
demonstrated. Even located as they are, we too often see a
nest turned on its side, with a cornstalk thrust through it
and the contents broken upon the ground. Short legs and
shorter arms not being able to secure, the selfishness of
human nature shows itself in destroying that which cannot
be obtained.

Our Loggerhead is not, however, discouraged by occa-
sional reverses but will immediately proceed to build a new
home and a fortnight later be happily engrossed in his new
possessions. It is here that we see him at his best, for he is
strictly a home bird, and will not object to a much closer in-
spection of his life than is allowed by most birds.

His personal appearance is one of meekness and does not
in the least betray that cruel hidden nature that often shows
itself in an undeniable manner. While Mother Nature de-
creed that he should prey upon the field mice and other de-
structive rodents, and gave to him a hooked beak that he
might more readily devour his prey, we find it hard to
forgive his cannibalistic tendencies when we discover a
little song bird impaled upon the cruel thorns. We are more
willing however, to forgive his faults when we see the love
and attention he bestowes upon his little mate and the un-
selfish care he devotes to his family of little ones.

The male proves an admirable character in his home life.
He helps to build the nest and is the constant companion

292

of his mate during incubation. He brings her food while
she is setting or temporarily relieves her of the task. He
helps in feeding and caring for the young and, taken al-
together, is a model and exemplary husband whose virtues
far outweigh his faults. The number of eggs deposited
and making a complete set is usually six, although some-
times but five are laid.

Fig. 252. The Flicker takes one glance about her, then dash-
es out at full speed.

293

Fig. 253. NEST OF FLICKER.
Stu'mp broken auay so as to sJiow the

J94

Fig. 254. FLR'KEK AT XEST-HOLE.

295

THE WOOD-HEWERS.

Flicker or Golden-winged Woodpecker.

All woodpeckers may be classed as carpenters; they all
build their homes in the trunks or branches of trees. Usu-
ally decayed limbs are chosen but sometimes the larger and
stronger species bore into the living wood. The entrances
or doors^ to these homes are made circular, and just large
enough to allow the birds body to slip through. The cavity
within is larger and varies in depth from six inches, which
is large enough for the little black and white Downy, to a
foot for the Flicker and two feet or more for larger wood-
peckers like the Pileated.

Just as different human beings differ in temperament, so
do birds. Some are very cautious especially in all their
acts about their homes while others are "happy-go-lucky"
and give no thought to danger. A pair of Flickers, that
decided to make their home in a large chestnut tree, were
of this latter class.

One morning I heard a steady, muffled chopping as I was
walking along the edge of the woods. Following the sound,
brought me to the foot of this tree. Although it was evi-
dent that the bird was pounding away on the inside, it
would have been difficult to have located the nest but for the
fact that on one side of the tree, the ground was conspic-
uously covered with chips. Looking upwards from this
«pot I could see about two inches of the tail of a busy
Flicker, protruding from a hole about twenty feet up. Soon
«he stopped hammering, backed out and more chips came
fluttering down.

Both Flickers worked on this excavating for about a week
before the chamber was large enough to suit them; they
both had the same careless habit of simply dropping the
«hips from the opening. It was an advertisement notifying
beast, bird or man that above was the nest of some wood-
peckers. Of course these tell-tale chips may have had noth-

296

ing to do with the outcome, but one day^ soon after their
set of eggs was completed. I saw a pair of red squirrels
playing about the tree and often going into the Flicker
nest. An investigation showed that the eggs were missing.
More careful were the Flickers that dwelt in a large wil-
low overhanging a swiftly flowing brook. Every chip was.

Fig. 255. Young flickers do not like to pose before a camera.

prudently carried away for a distance of a hundred yards
or more before it was dropped.

Flickers are very different in their habits from other
woodpeckers. They get more of their food from the ground
than they do from trees; they are exceedingly fond of ants,
one bird often destroying a whole colony at one meal. They
also usually alight on branches crosswise, as a perching
bird does, instead of lengthwise like the other members of
the familv.

297

Five to eight glossy white eggs are laid^ directly upon the
bare floor of the house or what few chips happen to remain.
For the first week of their lives, little Flickers are fed by
regurgitation, that is, food that has been partly digested
by the parent. During the remainder of their stay in the
nest, the little birds are fed largely upon ants, spiders and
small worms or caterpillars. They are very noisy when they
are nearly fledged, and their clamor is appalling when their
frequent meals come around.

I have never been able to make little Flickers pose be-
fore the camera so as to secure a respectable picture. They
always get into the most awkward and uncomfortable posi
tions, and bite and claw one another so that it is almost im-
possible to keep any kind of order. Judging from the
squealing and confusion that always greets the return of
one of their parents to the nest, I doubt if the old birds can
make their youngsters behave much better than I have been
able to.

Red-headed Woodpecker.

This species is one of the most beautiful of woodpeckers.
The black, the white, and the red are distributed in such
large, clear-cut areas that the bird cannot escape unnoticed
when at rest or in flight. As a rule, I believe that birds of
this species are rather proud and wish to attract as much at-
tention as possible. They hav^e loud, whining voices and,
especially during the mating and early nesting season, seem
to try to make all the noise they possibly can.

In many respects, "Red-heads" are just the opposite of
Flickers. Flickers are peaceable birds, — never known to
start a neighborhood quarrel ; but Red-headed Woodpeckers
are "bird-brawlers," — never so happy as when engaged in
arguments, or even rough and tumble fights with some
neighbor. I am sorry to have to admit, too, that their ad-
versaries are seldom guilty of any offense but usually have
to protect themselves against the depredations of the Red-
heads.

298

Fig. 256. YOUNG RED-HEADED WOODPECKER.

G The head and hack is gray instead of red and black respective-
ly as in the adults.

299

I have often seen the results of atrocious acts committed
by these birds, in the shape of devastated homes of other
birds, and once I saw a pair of them perform the act. It
was in an old Virginia swamp where many tall, whitened,
naked tree trunks were still standing. Two pairs of the
woodpeckers were in evidence; I had found the nest of one
of them, about twenty feet above ground in one of these
dead trees.

Many Brown-headed Nuthatches were also nesting there,
and I had located one of their nests, — high up, where I
could not get to it. They were very busy carrying food to
little birds, through the little round hole in the trunk that
led to their dwelling. One day as I was about fifty yards
away from this tree, I saw one pair of the Red-heads sweep
by with their usual undulating flight and alight beside the
Nuthatch home. Evidently the cavity was shallow, for each
woodpecker, in turn, reached his head in and pulled out a
squirming little nuthatch. The female bore her prize away
to her own nest, but the male took his to a near tree, pulled
it to pieces and ate it himself.

Of course it is but for a short season that these wood-
peckers are destructive to the young and eggs of other birds.
During the rest of the year they are useful in destroying a
great many wood-borers, larvae, etc. They have the habit,
shared by many birds that migrate little if at all, of storing
up supplies of food for future use. They often conceal
nuts in crevices in bark or in holes that they may make for
that purpose. Of course some other bird has just as good
a chance of eating the hoard as the one that stored it, but
he, on the other hand, also uses goods stored by other in-
dividuals.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Here we have another type of woodpecker. The Flicker
has a sticky tongue, perfectly adapted for catching the ants
it likes so well. The Red-headed Woodpecker has a tongue.

300

Fig. 257. Adult Bed-headed Woodpecker at the entrance to
her nest.

101

Fig. 258. ADULT SAPSUCKER.

the tip of which is armed with tiny barbs, adapted to spear-
ing insects and drawing them from under the bark or wood
of trees. The tongue of a Sapsucker is covered with line
hairs at the tip making a small brush with which he can lap
up the sap that oozes from holes he bores through the bark
of trees.

His food does not, however, consist even largely of sap,
for he catches probably as many insects as others of the
woodpecker family. Sapsuckers very frequently come to
the suet and nut banquets that are spread for winter birds ;
it was while partaking of such a feast that the pictures of
the Sapsuckers shown here were secured.

302

Fig. 259. YOUNG SAPSUCKER.

You can see the many holes he has bored through the bark so
as to get the sap that collects.

803

305

HOW BIRD PHOTOGRAPHS ARE MADE

Equipment. — Nearly everyone uses a camera of some
sort, but every camera is not suitable for our purpose of
bird photography. Plate cameras are used almost exclu-
sively, not because plates are better than films, but chiefly
because with those using films you cannot focus the picture
you wish to secure on a ground glass and because they are
not built with sufficiently long bellows.

More than three-quarters of the pictures shown in tliis
book were taken at distances between three and four feet;
working at this distance it is absolutely necessary that a
very sharp focus be secured; this must be done, not by
guesswork, but by careful viewing the image on the ground
glass. I know of no successful bird photographer but who
uses a plate camera for most of his or her work.

I always advise anyone to purchase as good an outfit as
they can afford. Undoubtedly the very best outfit that can
be secured is the 4x5 revolving-back Graflex fitted with a
seven and one-half inch convertible anastigmat lens in a
compound shutter. Unfortunately, however, such an out-
fit is very expensive. Personally, if I could have but one
camera, — one that I could carry about with me comfortably
and use for all purposes, I should select a 4x5 plate
ca'^'" ^.ra having a bellows capacity of at least twelve inches
a ' fitted with a seven inch anastigmat lens in a compound
'■ .atter. This outfit would cost in the neighborhood of
eventy-five dollars, but would be capable of the most ex-
acting work in all branches except high-speed work. When'
traveling, one can use a film-pack with this outfit, securing
all the conveniences and compastness of a kodak, yet have
the ability to do work at close range that cannot be satis-
factorily done with the latter instrument.

The best is desirable but is not necessary. Very good
results may be obtained with the regular 4x5 camera and
equipment that can be purchased for twenty-five dollars

2a

306

The results depend chiefly upon the person making the pic-
tures. Let a skillful operator use the two instruments and
the best pictures taken with the cheaper camera will be fully
equal to the best taken with an expensive one^ while tb
poorest taken with the latter will be just as undesirable as
the poorest secured with the cheap outfit ; but the average of
those taken with a high grade lens will probably be con-
siderably better than those taken with an ordinary one.

Nearly every bird picture is made with tlie camera on
tripod. For a light camera. I prefer a telescopic metal
pod as they are very compact and rigid.

One of the chief requisites of bird photographs, or
any other subject, is that the principal objects and f
ground be absolutely sharp. Xests and nesting site,
always photographed with a small stop or aperture t
lens giving an exposure adapted to the quality and int»
of the light.

A small ball and socket joini that can be procured
your supply dealer for about a dollar, will allow ^
point the camera downward at a sharp angle so as t
veniently photograph nests located on or near the gj
Care and judgment must be used in removing or tying
of the w^ay any branches, leaves or grasses th'it come l
tween the camera and nest and appear out of focus on the
ground glass.

The ver}^ best photographic results cm be obtained on
bright cloudy days. Bright sun shining on a nest makes
too strong a contrast of light and shadow for pleasing^
effects; such light should be screened, perferably with a
white cloth. Do not destroy any of the foliage that is
necessary to shelter the nest from sun, rain or observation;
objectionable leaves may be very easily tied with thread
so as to be out of the way.

Photographing Young Birds
Beautiful pictures of very young birds in the nest may

307

often be secured by focusing very carefully on the nest
then slightly jarring their home. Thinking that their par-
ents are returning with food, often the tiny heads, with
wide-open mouths, will be raised expectantl3^ Such pic-
tures, of course, have to be made with the lens wide open
and with a speed of not less than one-hundredth of a second.
Little birds should not be taken from the nest for any pur-
ose until they are fully feathered. If they are not large
nd strong enough to perch on a branch it is folly to try and
e them in that position, for the result will be unnatural,
reed and ugly.

Families of little birds, side by side, on twigs make ex-

>nt bird studies and are easily taken. The branch

Id be selected and your camera set in position and care-

■ focussed before disturbing the birds. In such cases

ms is always used at its largest aperture for depth of

^ is not only not wanted but is undesirable. A softly

Vd background of as nearly a uniform shade as can be

Mced is the effect to aim for. Handle the little birds

ntly as possible and try and get them to pose easily

gracefully on that section of the branch that is shown

■ the ground glass. Avoid any quick motions for, should

one of the little fellows be startled and try to fly, you will

find it very difficult to induce him to remain where you want

him to afterwards

Photographing Adult Birds

Armed with a reflecting camera it is not difficult to secure
pictures of many of the larger birds, such as gulls, terns,
ospreys, etc., in flight. One may even occasionally get near
enough to take a passably good picture of some of the small-
er birds. If, however, anyone depended upon rambling
through the fields and woods trying to get these "lucky
shots," the photographs representing his season's work
would be few in number and of comparatively little value.

Lenses are mechanical implements. A lens of a certain

308

focal length will always make the same sized image c
certain sized bird at the same distance. Unfortunately
image of the smaller birds is very tiny unless the camer
very close to the subject. How^ then^ can we get <
enough to the birds or get them to come close enough tc
Certainly not b}'' chasing them. The devotion of bird
their offspring is not surpassed by that of human mot*^
for their children; for them, they will face any dar
Here then, is the magnet that will unfailingly draw the
within reaching distance of the camera-eye.

Having located a nest in a get-at-able position, thert
two practical methods of procedure in order to get th
sired pictures. I will first mention the tent method a
is much the best. Birds pay little or no attention to
mate objects, a fact which makes bird photography p(
I believe it was Kearton, in England, who first coj
this idea of photographing from a blind. He user"
ficial tree trunk that he set in place near birds'
from the inside of which he made his pictures,
found that it is not even necessary that the I
semblance to surrounding objects.

The simplest, most compact and most portal
tent is that known as the umbrella-tent. An o.
strong umbrella is fitted with extensions so that the
may be lengthened to about six feet; a covering is m;
fit over the top and droop to the ground. This simple
can be held rigidly upright by three guy cords from the

The tent can be used successfully from which to ph
graph birds returning to their eggs, but only when the 1
ter are in advanced stages of incubation, at which time ho
ties will be strong enough to induce the bird to return. ^
early an attempt at its use will cause the bird to desert
nest.

The following will represent the mode of procedure
nearlv every instance where a nest is not more than six feti

309

■ve ground. Consider that M^e have found the nest of a

•stnut-s.ded Warbler in a favorable position and ^hat

young are about a week old. We arrive with our out-

t a time of day when the light is most favorable. The

IS quickly placed in position so that its nearest side is

. three feet from the nest; in this side we have a series of

er! ^"^^f °"' f ^'^''^ ■' P'""^'' •'-'^k so that the
era can be focussed on the subject. We study the image
_he ground gUss. tying back foliage that causes blu^rs

sun a black thread IS tied to this, carried around a

.1 on a neighboring bush and then to the tent. A gen-

■m on tins thread elevates the shade-branch so as to

the entire nest strongly illuminated whenever we

: minutes from the time we arrived, we have every-

- readiness and are standing or sitting within our

t everything goes well, within ten minutes we will

^ the warblers coming and going, feeding their

ist as though we were not there. We usually

jO make two or three visits before making ex-

the click of the shutter often startles them the

.. rhey hear it. With care, plate after plate may be

d wi hoiit alarming the adult birds in the least. Just

es wi ,in "^ 1 ^'f' P^'-fo^ing their household

es withm arm s reach of you and apparently not aware
.our presence. That sounds easy, doesn't ij It L easy

.dv iTowf i*r".^ ""' ^^ ''■' -^"' -' *- UnfLtu'
tha't rr ' ^"%^^^' ^ -«.V «f "P^etting our plans.

The tent allows of accurate observations of events at
i>e nest and also of perfect control of the camera! Often

e too high or circumstances may prevent your having or

310

procuring a satisfactory tent, yet good pictures can ;:.
as readily be obtained. The only difference is that the c.
must be operated from a distance^ which of course, ne(
tates going to it to change plates between exposures. S
times the shutter is operated by a long tube leading
your place of concealment, but the better way is to
black linen thread. With the thread you can operate
a greater distance if necessary and you can be certaii
an exposure is made when you pull it. To release the
ter by this method I attach a rubber band to camei
and pass it over the release lever which is held in plat
splinter of wood of correct length between it and the
bed. The thread is attached near one end of this
wood so that a slight pull will bring it from under t^
and the elastic band will complete the work.

Obviously no rules can be given for the very ma'
ent problems that are offered by different nes ~
to be solved by the photographer and it is hi
ability to cope with adverse condition that w.
a successful or an unsuccessful bird photc
camera may have to be lashed up in trees;
have to be reflected on the nest by a mirror; I ..
you have to do, always bear in mind that the safk
young birds is of much greater importance than the
ing of a picture. Some photographers drape their ten
leafy branches so as to make it less conspicuous; yo
suit your own fancy in regard to that, as the birds dr
care whether it is draped or not. If a tent is not used
camera should be covered with a black focussing cloth s
to prevent fogging of the plate by chance leakage of lig'

INDEX

, 75

it 19^

'^ 130

'. , 143

im ^^

bo

[][[ 9

179

'' 152

295

97

101

" WW ,,,[,.[ ... 125

iingbird ^

Blue J^l

Rockv Mountain ^'J^

gbird' ^^^

Arkansas ^^^

-gfisl^er 223

-hthawk ^^

^hatch Ji

n-bird flj

-y %l

ree, Wood ''^

.ebe ^1

Istart , ^9

bin 103

312 \

i

Sapsucker 299 1.

Shrike, Loggerhead ^^^ l.|

Sparrow, Chipping 159 T*

Field 172 ^

" Grasshopper 176 f.

Song 170 ^^1

Swallow. Barn 59 ^^

" ^ Bank 47

Tree ^^^^

Swift, Chimney 31 ^

Thrasher, Brown 135

Thrush, Wood 123 ^1

Wilson 117

Veery 117.

Vireo 123

Warbler, Black and White 199

Chestnut-sided 207

Golden-winged 198

" Prairie 211

" Yellow 219

Whip-poor-will 43

Woodpecker, Downy 251

" Red-headed 297

Wren, House 262

Yellow-throat, Maryland 179

bUblUN KUDLH^ LIDMMMT

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