Bird lore - Project Puffin

THE
First Efforts at Bird Photography
By H. IRA HARTSHORN, Newark, N. J.
With photographs by the author
accompanying pictures are the results of my first attempts at bird
photography, and I want to let others know how much pleasure is
to be derived from this method of studying birds. All the pictures I
have taken so far are of the tame birds one sees every day around the house.
That is, if one doesn't live in too big a city; in which case a trolley to the suburbs
will answer, as it did in my case.
My equipment, which includes a second-hand camera, two plate-holders,
an electrical release, a flashhght battery, small satchel, flexible wire, etc., did
not cost over $8.
The first nest I saw last year was a Chickadee's nest. I found it on April i8.
It was still cold, with not a leaf on the trees. The two birds were taking out
CHIPPING SPARROW FEEDING ITS YOUNG
chips from the top of a birch stump, which was about seven feet high. The
hole was about eight inches deep. There was still no lining in the nest, so I
knew that the birds had not prepared it for the reception of the eggs.
I visited it again on April 26, and expected to see two eggs in the little home;
but, when I arrived there, I found that the nest had been broken off at the
very bottom of the eight inches already dug. This was caused by the Chicka-
dees' digging too close to the rotten bark, when the first gust of wind probably
broke it. Much to my dehght, the birds were not daunted by this misfortune,
but kept on building. On April 24, the hole was started the second time. A
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